What are in this post?
Dear folks, this blog post defines the TMT process and what is TMT bars. Important features of TMT bars and applications of TMT bars are also covered here. This post gives you full information about the same.
Grades of TMT bars and their mechanical properties and uses are explained in the previous post. You can read that by search or touch “Grades of TMT bars”.
Why you should know about TMT bars and their features and applications?
It would not be an exaggeration to claim that TMT bars are the backbone of the modern construction industry. TMT bars are the most famous and widely used construction material. Our homes, our workplaces, high-rise buildings, industrial structures, bridges, dams, flyovers, marine, thermal and hydel power plants, underground platforms, rapid transport systems and many other concrete structures derive their strength and durability from TMT bars.
The TMT bars are available in the market in sizes 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm, 25mm and 32mm. Some companies produce customized size TMT bars as per the demand. Each size TMT bar are used in different projects. In this blog post you will get it.
So students, engineers, contractors and householders everyone must know that what is TMT bars and features and applications of TMT bars.
The full form of TMT
The full form of TMT is “Thermo Mechanical Treatment”.
Now read step by step the definition of TMT bar, TMT process, features of TMT bars and uses of TMT bars.
What is TMT Bar?
TMT bars are special steel bars that are manufactured by a newly invented process called thermo mechanical treatment. Due to this process these bars are called TMT bars. TMT bars support the building structure strongly and increases the longevity of building & withstand against all natural calamities.
What is Thermo Mechanical Treatment?
Thermo Mechanical Treatment is a newly invented process of 21st century that is used in manufacturing of high quality steel bars.
Process of Thermo Mechanical Treatment
- In the very first stage of the manufacturing process of TMT bars, steel wires are passed through a rolling mill stand.
- Thereafter, these rolled steel wires are again passed through the Tempcore water cooling system.
- When passing the wires through the water cooling system, the water pressure is optimised.
- The sudden quenching and drastic changes in temperature harden the outer layer of the steel bar, making it extremely tough and highly durable.
- After this process is over, the TMT bar is left for atmospheric cooling. This is done to equalise the temperature difference between the soft inner core and the tough outer core.
- Once the TMT bas cools down, it slowly turns into a ferrite-pearlite mass. The inner core remains soft giving the TMT bar great tensile strength and elongation point.
- This design is unique to the TMT bar and gives the bar superior ductility.
“This unique manufacturing technology and absence of cold stress make the TMT bar corrosion-resistant and enhance its weldability. Thus TMT process enhances the properties of steel bars and gives them superior ductility, hardness to outer layer, high durability, earthquake resistance, corrosion resistance, high bendability and weldability, great tensile strength and elongation point.”
Top 10 Features of TMT Bars
The top 10 advantages that TMT bars bring to the modern construction industry are:
1. Enhanced Strength
The high strength of TMT bars make them an ideal construction material to be used with concrete for making structures more robust. The uniform ribbed pattern on TMT bars provides additional strength to structures by bonding more tightly with the concrete.
2. High Ductility
The high ductility of TMT bars makes them easy to work with and reduces overall constructing time.
3. Excellent Weldability
TMT bars have excellent weldability. This avoids loss of strength at welded joints.
4. Corrosion-Resistant
The thermo mechanical treatment process imparts anti-rust properties to the steel bars. Coarse carbides, which are the main cause of corrosion in steel, are stopped building up during the water-cooling phase. Thus structures made of TMT steel bars are more durable.
5. High Thermal Resistance
A high quality TMT bar has high thermal stability, due to this TMT bars can withstand temperatures ranging from 400 °C to 600 °C. This characteristic of TMT bars ensures the structural integrity of the building even during a fire.
6. Resistant To Fatigue
TMT bars are resistant to fatigue. This is the another unique and important feature of TMT bars. TMT bars can with stand any dynamic loading due to their excellent strength of the surface layer. This makes TMT bars an essential choice for super strong buildings.
7. Earthquake Proof
The TMT bar has a soft inner core which gives it high level of ductility. It is this ductility that protects structures built with TMT bars from earthquakes and other natural disasters.
8. Savings in Cost of Steel
TMT bars have higher tensile strength and better elongation value. Due to which the same amount of TMT bars can provide 20% additional strength to the structure as compared to ordinary steel bars. Apart from reducing the cost of raw materials, TMT bars also save costs on transportation and storage.
9. Unique Bending Ability
TMT bars have unique bending ability. And that's why these bars are ideal for any construction work. TMT bars can be given any shape to meet the architectural and design needs of the building.
10. Easy to Manage at Site
The soft inner core of the TMT bar makes it easy to bend as needed. The soft inner core also helps in cutting the TMT bar to the required size. The construction workers do not get injured or harmed when they work with it.
TMT bars are available in 4 groups grades (total 9 grades). Out of them Fe 415, Fe 500, Fe 500D, Fe 550 and Fe 550D are most used grades construction industry. Fe 415 is low on strength, while Fe 550 is low on flexibility. So most of the engineers consider Fe 500, Fe 550D and Fe 550D to be the best as they have the perfect balance of strength and flexibility.
Applications of TMT Bars
Due to high tensile strength, ability to elongate and bend without getting damaged, bendability and ductility, TMT bars are actively used in various construction projects, such as
- Residential projects
- High-rise residential buildings
- Office structures
- Industrial structures
- Dams
- Bridges and flyovers
- Underground structures
- Thermal and hydel power plants
- Underwater or marine structures
- Special structures such as Malls, Schools, Airports, Hospitals, etc.
Applications of TMT Bars According to Their Sizes
(A) 8mm to 10mm size TMT bars
8mm-10mm size bars are used in slabs and stair ups, which serves as a load bearing member in slab homes.
(B) 12mm to 25mm size TMT bars
12mm-25mm size bars are used in beams and columns (as per load and strength demand), to make them withstand external loads.
(C) 32mm to 36mm size TMT bars
32mm-36mm size bars are used in the construction of very complex projects like dams, bridges.
Note: Based on the designs also, we go for the different sizes.
Sometimes, we use different sizes TMT bars according to the project specifications.
If you want to build a durable, cost effective and strong structure, you should choose high quality TMT bars. The following two blog posts can help you with this.
Thanks for nice sharing.
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