Busting the Common Myths Associated with TMT Bars – What Are They?

TMT bars came into existence in the year 1979 when the market launched Fe 415 and Fe 500 bars. Since then, TMT bars have served the construction domain in the most excellent ways the industry had ever imagined. Today, almost five decades later, these bars have become a prerequisite in the real estate universe. Their high durability, malleability, and strength make them the right fit for any construction job.

However, even after so many years, thermo-mechanically treated bars are associated with some misconceptions. So, if you are in the construction domain and need superior quality steel TMT bars, your first step is understanding those myths and differentiating them from the facts. If you are planning to purchase these bars, you first need to understand their purposes. For this reason, the following myths will give you a better insight. So, let’s first evaluate the myths and differentiate them from the truth.

Myth 1 – You Only Need to Trust the Supplier to Assess Its Quality

The supplier you select to buy these bars must be familiar with the features and physical attributes of these bars. However, thinking their word is the only way to assess their quality is the biggest misconception. If you call yourself a responsible construction professional, you need to conduct various methods to test their quality. Testing ensures quality assurance and industry standards. So, you can follow the given methods to conduct the test –

Tensile Test: With this test, you can determine the stress the bars can take at a particular point when they begin to deform. The UTM or Universal Time Machine helps test the bars. Quality bars will elastically deform until they reach the yield point.

Yield Stress Testing: This test evaluates the amount of stress the bars can manage before they start deforming. Once the force is removed, it shall return to its original state. The bar must have 0.2% proof of stress that demonstrates their quality and value.

Chemical Test: You can evaluate the bar’s chemical composition with this method. The bars are cut in a cross-sectional manner via abrasives. They are grounded and then polished on one side. A spectrometer helps assess the quality. You can perform the testing method within 10 or 15 seconds.

Bending and Rebending: The bending test evaluates their ductility while rebending determines the quality. After the test is done, quality bars won’t have any cracks in their tension zone.

Myth 2: They Aren’t Earthquake Resistance 

The best TMT bars, such as Fe 500 and Fe 415 grades, can have exceptional strength. This allows them to withstand forces exerted during natural calamities like earthquakes. These bars are most suitable for small buildings and other structural constructions in regions that witness seismic activities.

Also, TMT bars are extremely robust and flexible. They can withstand high shocks as well as tremors, so they are safe for construction in the earthquake-prone zones.

Myth 3: TMT Bars Cannot be Used to Build Bridges and Dams

Amidst different building structures, dams and bridges are the most complex ones. Opposing the third myth, TMT bars ranging between 32-50mm can be used in forming Hydraulic structures, including dams, bridges, and even reservoirs.

Since TMT bars are highly durable and strong, they can be used for building these structures. After all, they ensure structural integrity. In addition, they are also used in colossal infrastructure and mega projects like commercial and industrial structures, flyovers, etc.

Myth 4: They Aren’t Fire-Resistant

The fact is somewhat different – TMT bars have high thermal capacity. That’s what makes them suitable for withstanding temperatures between 450 and 600 degrees. So, they are fire-resistant and are a great choice for real estate projects.

When they are exposed to heat, they would mot melt until 600 degrees Celsius. Mechanical properties are the reasons why they do not melt within the given temperature. Also, they can hold the cement in a particular position in a stable condition for various hours.

Myth 5: You Cannot Check The Bars’ Physical Appearance with Naked Eyes

Thermo-mechanically treated bars are available in various sizes like 8-10mm, 12-25mm, 32-36mm, etc. So, presuming that you cannot check its physical qualities with your naked eyes is another myth. You can determine their physical appearance easily. If the bars feature smooth surfaces without noticeable cracks and scratches, they are of premium quality. The best way to determine their smoothness is by conducting rebending testing.

Quality bars do not come with noticeable defects. Ensure that they have a uniform rib pattern it’s their USP). The rib pattern ensures that they can easily bond with concrete. When it comes to their weight and dimensions, they must have permissible tolerances considering industry standards.

A Parting Note

So, this post compiles everything about the common misconceptions concerning TMT steel bars. Now that you understand the common myths, it’s time to choose the superior quality steel TMT bars from the best supplier. Since they offer high-tensile strength, superior ductility, and fire and corrosion resistance qualities, they have become a valuable addition to the construction world. Select the best TMT steel bars from the market and carry forward your construction project accordingly.