An Approach to Predict Geometrically and Thermo-Mechanically Induced Stress Concentrations in Ribbed Reinforcing Bars

Ribbed reinforcing steel bars (rebars) are used for the reinforcement of concrete structures. In service, they are subjected to cyclic loading. Several studies addressing the relationship between rib geometry, stresses at the rebar surface induced by service loads and the rebar fatigue performance can be found in literature. However, the rebar’s fatigue performance is also influenced by residual stresses originating from the manufacturing process. In this contribution, a modeling approach is proposed to examine geometrically and thermo-mechanically induced stress concentrations in ribbed reinforcing bars made of the steel grade B500B. A linear-elastic load stress analysis and a thermo-mechanical analysis of the manufacturing process are conducted. The results are discussed and compared to literature results. In case of the load stress analysis, the results agree well with findings reported in literature and extend the current state of knowledge for B500B rebars with small diameters. In case of the thermo-mechanical analysis, compressive residual stresses at the rebar surface between two ribs and tensile residual stresses in the longitudinal direction at the tip of the ribs can be reported.