Introduction
Bar Flex from Target is a Grade 304 (or Grade 316 for exceptional requirements) austenitic stainless steel reinforcing material that has many unique properties. Being rolled from a plain round wire the fins are work-hardened to a very high level whilst the core remains relatively soft. The subsequent twisting process puts the fins into tension and the core into compression. The tensile strength of the base material is more than doubled during the manufacturing process. The deformation of the fins makes the bonding characteristics of Bar Flex far superior to alternative standard reinforcing materials.
Technical
The University of Bath School of Architecture and Civil Engineering has performed independent tests on the Bar Flex material to ascertain its tensile and shear loadings. A full report of this testing, including the methods employed, is available on request, but a summary is given in the table below. One of the properties of the Bar Flex material is that it performs similar to a strong coiled spring when it is stressed within its elastic limit. All of the load calculations for design are based within this elastic limit.
Tensile and shear loadings, and cross-sectional areas, can be found by selecting the Sizes button.
Sizes
Bar Flex is available in three different diameters of 6mm, 8mm and 10mm for use in different applications. Lengths are available from 1 metre up to 10 metres long.
Uses
The uses for Bar Flexs are both wide and varied and they can be utilised in new build and for many specialised refurbishment requirements.
In general terms the 6mm Bar Flex is used for the reinforcing of existing masonry structures. By combining the Bar Flex with Bond Flex XL cementitious grout, beams that can span over openings, as a lintel, or over soft areas of ground when footings have failed, can be installed into existing masonry with very little disturbance. Crack stitching can be achieved by using 1m Bar Flexs.
The 8mm Bar Flex is used for new build masonry reinforcing. The larger fin dimensions gives a much better bond into a standard building mortar than the alternative round section wire. The increase in the tensile strength during the manufacturing process also requires less material to be used.
For heavy duty applications the 10mm Bar Flex is in a class of its own. Very strong in tensile and shear, when combined with the bonding capabilities makes this a truly versatile product.
