Opportunities and challenges in adopting higher strength reinforcement bars in reinforced concrete structures

The improvement in technology has enabled the strength of reinforcement bars to be progressively higher and a few developed nations have explored and embraced such changes in their construction industries. The paper outlines the opportunities and challenges faced by the Singapore construction industry in using a higher strength reinforcement. While the Eurocodes, the nation’s design code, allows GR600 steel to be used, attempts to use to that strength limit have begun but there are still issues to be overcome before a wide spread acceptance and adoption can take place. Information from pilot projects on the use of such reinforcement shows that the benefits outweights the drawbacks. © 2018 The Authors. Published by Diamond Congress Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the Creative Construction Conference 2018.