A Rod That Withstands 12.2 Tons per One Square Cm
Dongkuk Steel Mill Co. said on Dec. 3 that it has succeeded in developing an ultra-high-strength reinforcing bar that can withstand the load of more than seven mid-sized cars for the first time in Korea.
Giga Reinforcing Rod, which was developed by Dongkuk Steel Mill’s in-house technology, has a yield strength of 1,014 MPa, the highest strength among products ever developed in Korea. The new product can withstand a load of 12.2 tons (7.6 units of mid-sized passenger cars) per one square centimeter, a strength that is at least twice that of normal steel bars (SD400) capable of withstanding a load of 5.3 tons (3.3 units of mid-sized passenger cars).
Dongkuk Steel expects Giga Reinforcing Rod to come in handy as a tendon for construction sites that require high strength such as long-span bridges, skyscrapers, and containment structures. A tendon is a steel product placed inside or outside of concrete to prevent cracks in the concrete when a heavy load occurs during the construction of a concrete structure.
In Europe, Japan, and other countries, steel bars as strong as Giga Reinforcing Rod are commonly used in large-scale reinforced concrete structures. But in Korea where giga steel bars are not developed, they are replaced by expensive steel wires. It is expected that Dongkuk Steel Mill's development of the giga steel bar will contribute to cutting construction cost, shortening construction periods and improving the performance of concrete structures among others, steel industry insiders say.