Stress-strain relationship of high-strength

steel (HSS) reinforcing bars

Cite as: AIP Conference Proceedings 1964, 020025 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5038307
Published Online: 15 May 2018

Retno Anggraini, Tavio, I. Gede Putu Raka, et al.

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AIP Conference Proceedings 1964, 020025 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5038307 1964, 020025

© 2018 Author(s).
 Stress-Strain Relationship of High-Strength Steel (HSS)
Reinforcing Bars
Retno Anggraini1,a), Tavio2,b), I Gede Putu Raka2,c), Agustiar3,d)
1
Doctoral Candidate, Department of Civil Engineering, InstituteTechnology Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya,
Indonesia and Department of Civil Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia
2
Department of Civil Engineering, InstituteTechnology Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya, Indonesia
3
Doctoral Candidate, Department of Civil Engineering, InstituteTechnology Sepuluh Nopember (ITS),
Surabaya, Indonesia and Department of Civil Engineering, Muhammadiyah University of Aceh, Banda Aceh,
Indonesia
a)
Corresponding author: retnoang@ub.ac.id
b)
tavio_w@yahoo.com
c)
igp_raka@yahoo.com
d)
ampenan70@yahoo.com

Abstract.The introduction of High-Strength Steel (HSS) reinforcing bars in reinforced concrete members has gained
much attention in recent years and led to many advantages such as construction timesaving. It is also more economical
since it can reduce the amount of reinforcing steel bars used in concrete members which in turn alleviates the congestion
of reinforcement. Up to present, the building codes, e.g. American Concrete Institute (ACI) 318M-14 and Standard
National Indonesia (SNI) 2847:2013, still restrict the use of higher-strength steel reinforcing bars for concrete design up
to Grade 420 MPa due to the possible suspected brittle behavior of concrete members. This paper evaluates the
characteristics of stress-strain relationships of HSS bars if they are comparable to the characteristics of those of Grade
420 MPa. To achieve the objective of the study, a series of steel bars from various grades (420, 550, 650, and 700 MPa)
was selected. Tensile tests of these steel samples were conducted under displacement-controlled mode to capture the
complete stress-strain curves and particularly the post-yield response of the steel bars. The results indicate that all the
steel bars tested had the actual yield strengths greater than the corresponding specified values. The stress-strain curves of
HSS reinforcing bars (Grade 550, 650, and 700 MPa) performed slightly different characteristics with those of Grade 420
MPa.

INTRODUCTION
Characterization of steel reinforcement is as important as that of concrete ingredients for engineering sound and
durable concrete structures.Manufacturing process, design requirements and construction method have significant
impact on characterization of reinforcing bars. Chemical composition and mechanical properties like yield strength,
ultimate strength and elongation are generally considered for characterization of reinforcing bars.
The use of high-strength steel bars offers several advantages, such as the reduction of the reinforcement ratio,
less cost for reinforcement placement, reduced reinforcement congestion, better concrete placement, and an increase
in service life due to enhanced corrosion resistance. One major concern with using this high-strength steel bar is
whether the larger induced steel strains under service load could cause unacceptably large cracking and deflection of
the Reinforced Concrete (RC) beam and whether the beam would achieve adequate ductility under ultimate load.
The stress-strain characteristics of the high strength steel reinforcement are quite different from conventional
Grade 60 (420 MPa) steel reinforcement. The High-strength reinforcing steel is considerably stronger than
conventional reinforcing steel but lacks a well-defined yield point.

Proceedings of the International Seminar on Metallurgy and Materials (ISMM2017)

AIP Conf. Proc. 1964, 020025-1–020025-8; https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5038307
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-1669-7/$30.00

020025-1
 RESEARCH BACKGROUND
Strength, ductility and corrosion resistant properties of reinforcing bars are important from design
considerations. From construction point of view, bendability and weldability of rebar are two important
characteristics. The required ductility of reinforcing bars could be guaranteed against all type of loadings, that is,
monotonic, repetitive and reversed loading by elongation.
There are many methods to reach the sufficient structure ductility such as giving confinement in element
structure and using the reinforcing bar with long elongation.Use ofWelded Wire Fabric (WWF) as confinement
reinforcement improves concrete strength and ductility very significantly when adequate detailing of longitudinal
and number of cells (grids) of WWF is used. Improvements in strength of approximately 50 and 110% and
improvements in ductility of approximately four and 10 times greater than that of unconfined concrete were
recorded for well-confined specimens.The improvement in each of the variables considered is translated into
enhancements in strength and ductility [9].
The most widely used deformed reinforcing bars conform to American Standard Test Material (ASTM)
A615/A615M, which include Grade 40 (280MPa), Grade 60 (420 MPa), and Grade 75 (520 MPa). The Grade 60
(420 MPa) reinforcement exhibits minimum yield strength of 410 MPa with a distinct yield plateau. ACI 318-08
permits use of reinforcing bars with a specified yield strength, fy, exceeding 420 MPa), but fy is limited to the lesser
of 550 MPa or the stress corresponding to a strain of 0.0035. Section 11.4.2 of ACI 318-08 limits the specified yield
strength for deformed bars used as shear reinforcement to 420 MPa. For deformed bars used as confinement
reinforcement (ties or spirals) in compression members, Section 3.5.3.3 of ACI 318-08 permits the use of specified
yield strength of up to 690 MPa [1].
A maximum limit for yield strength is desirable to be specified in standards used for earthquake-resistant design.
The absence of such a maximum limit may lead to brittle failure (shear) of the structure. Requirements specified in
IS 1786 for Fe 415 grade reinforcing bars are in line with the requirements of other countries for ductile design.
However, this does not hold good for reinforcing bars of grade Fe 550 as per IS 1786. Cautious approach should be
adopted in using rebar grades higher than Fe 415, especially Fe 550 grade, where ductility of reinforcing bars is
necessary for inelastic deformation of structural members as demanded by design philosophies. Such design cases
are earthquake-resistant design, design for impact load, design of slabs/beams, with adjustment of support
moments/load, against gravity load, etc. TMT bars are used presently in India for construction of concrete structure.
Neither IS 456 nor SP 16 provides design stress strain curve of TMT rebar. Use of the design curve of CTD bar is
not correct. BIS should come out with design stress-strain curve and design value of the yield strength of TMT bars.
A limitation on coefficient of variation on yield strength of reinforcing bars is desirable for the project of higher
importance [8].

General Shape Stress-Strain Relationship of Steel

600
D
500
400 OA - Elastic Range
Stress, MPa

A E
A - Upper Yield Point
300 B - Lower Yield Point
B C BC -Yield Plateau
200 D - Ultimate Strength
100 CD - Strain Hardening
E - Fracture
0
O
0 0.02 0.04 0.06
Strain

FIGURE1. Typical Stress-Strain curve formild steel rebar

020025-2
 Prabhiret al. (2004) says that typical stress strain curve of monotonically loaded (tension) mild steel rebar is
shown in Figure 1 The curves exhibit an initial elastic portion, a yield plateau (that is, a yield point beyond which
the strain increases with little or no increase in stress), a strain hardening range in which stress again increases with
strain, and finally a range in which the stress drops off until fracture occurs. The slope of the linear elastic portion of
the curve represents the modulus of elasticity of steel. The stress at the yield point, referred as the yield strength, is a
very important property of steel reinforcement.
Reinforcement is generally characterized by its yield strength. Stress-strain curves of the steel in compression
and tension are considered to be the same. In case of mild steel, yielding sometimes is accompanied by an abrupt
decrease in stress, and the stress-strain diagram has two stress (yield) levels, which are marked as A and B in Figure
1. Points A and B are referred as upper and lower yield strengths respectively. The position of the upper yield point
depends on the speed of testing, the shape of the section and the form of the specimen. The lower yield strength is
usually considered as the true characteristic of the material and simply referred as yield strength, which is around
250 MPa for mild steel reinforcing bars [6].
Manzoor and Ahmad (2013) study, thirty sample of steel rebars of grade 60 and thirty samples of grade 72.5
were tested using ASTM Standard Testing Protocol to obtain the stress strain curves and comparisons were made
between the experimental results of grade 60 and grade 72.5 rebars.For the development of idealized analytical
stress-strain curve of steel re-bars, five (5) control points are used. Figure 2 shows the control points for an
experimental stress strain curve. Using the coordinates of the control points, calibrated for about 2000 samples and
the fractional equation developed by Ahmad (2013), idealized stress-strain curves for Grade 60 re-bars and Grade
72.5 re-bars are developed. These idealized analytical stress-strain curves are compared with the experimental
stress-strain curves.
From test results of tension tests on Grade 60 #5 (16 mm) re-bars are shown in Table 1 and it can be observed
that all of the bars show yield strength much higher than the prescribed minimum yield strength, i.e. 420 MPa. The
average yield value of 30 samples is 505.4 MPa which is substantially higher than specified yield strength of 420
MPa. Stress-strain curves for average samples of Grade 60 #5 (16 mm) re-bars are shown in Figure 3. Test results of
tension tests on Grade 72.5deformed bars #5 (16 mm) are shown in Table 1 and it can be observed that about 50 %
of the bars do not reach the prescribed minimum yield strength of 507.5 MPa. The average yield value of 30 samples
is 509 MPa which is just above the specified yield strength of 505 ksi. Stress-strain curves for average samples of
Grade 72.5 re-bars are shown in Figure 2 [6].

Stress Strain Relationship For grade 60 & 72.5

700

600

500
Stress (MPa)

400 Grade 60
300
Grade 72.5
200

100

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
Strain (%)
FIGURE2. Average experimental control points for grade 60 and 72.5 rebars of #5 (16mm)

On the basis of the results, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. The deformation capacity of Grade 72.5 re-bars is less as compared to that of Grade 60 re-bars.
2. For Grade 60 re-bars, the yield strengths of all individual re-bars were much higher than the prescribed
minimumyield strength of 60 ksi and the average yield value of 30 samples is 540 MPa which is substantially
higher thanspecified yield strength of 420 MPa.

020025-3
3. For the Grade 72.5 re- bars, about 50 % of the re-bars did not reach the prescribed minimum yield strength of
540MPa and the average yield value of 30 samples is 540.4 MPa which is just above the specified yield strength
of540 ksi[6].

A number of high-strength reinforcing steels are currently available for the design and construction of reinforced
concrete flexural members. The typical stress-strain relationships of several different high-strength reinforcing steels
are presented in Figure 3, along with the stress-strain relationship of conventional Grade 60 (400 MPa) steel for
comparison. As seen in the figure, the stress-strain curve of typical high-strength steel is characterized by an initial
linear portion followed by a nonlinear section. The absence of a distinct yield plateau is characteristic of most high-
strength steel. Despite the lack of a well-defined yield point, most high-strength reinforcing steels are capable of
achieving ultimate strain values up to 0.05 or higher [7].

Stress Strain Characteristic High Strength Reinforcing Steel

2500

2000
Stress, MPa

Grade 60
1500

High
1000
Strength
Steel Bar
Prestress
500
Steel

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06
Strain

FIGURE 3. Material characteristics of high-strength reinforcing steel;

RESEARCH SIGNIFICANT
There are few experimental data or design guidelines for the use of high-strength steel. This paper will provide
much-needed information on the behavior of high-strength steel especially on stress-strain relationship for
reinforcing bars with a yield strength of550, 650, and 690 MPacompare with low-strength steel bar with a yield
strength 420 MPa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experimental included 12 tension tests using twelve specimen of steel reinforcing bars tested under tension up to
failure. Twelve specimens divided into 4 grades of reinforcing bars: 420MPa. 550 MPa, 650 MPa and 700 MPa.All
specimen was 50 cm long and were in 10 mm ofdiameters.The instrument testing is Universal Testing Machine with
loading capacity is 200ton,and strain rate for this testing is 12.5 mm/minute (based on ASTM A370).


020025-4
 

FIGURE 4. Testing Equipment

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Result of Tension Testing

Many of tension testing for various grade of steel reinforcing bars can see in table 1.Table 1 show yield and
tensile strength for many grade reinforcing bars.

TABLE1. TensionTest Result of reinforcing bars for various grade

Yield Tensile
Grade
Strength Strength
(MPa)
(MPa) (MPa)
489.223 634.827
420 498.34 638.341
496.24 636.555
579.423 697.988
550 584.203 706.264
589.847 704.1
724.527 855.575
650 678.952 858.459
688.285 854.652
762.906 887.129
700 760.774 911.417
757.777 914.706

020025-5
 Value of Tensile Strength can be obtained with eq.1

ெ௔௞௦௜௠௨௠ி௢௥௖௘
ܶ݁݊‫ ݏݏ݁ݎݐ݈ܵ݁݅ݏ‬ൌ  (1)
஺௖௧௨௔௟஺௥௘௔

Analysis Stress-Strain Relationship of Various Strength Reinforcing Steel Bar

Stress-strain relationship for various grade of steel reinforcing bars can see in Figure5.Figure 5 (a), show
thestress-strain diagram for 3 specimen reinforcing bars grade 420 MPa. Whereas Figure 6 (b, c & d) show stress-
strain 3 sample reinforcing bars diagram for grade 550, 650 and 700 MPa.

Stress-Strain Diagram Grade 420 Stress-Strain Diagram Grade 550

70 80

60 70

50 60
Stress (MPa)

Stress (MPa)
40 50
S-1-420 BU-1-550
40
30
S-2-420 Bu-2-550
30
20 S3-3-420 BU-3-550
20
10
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 0
0 20 40 60
Strain (%)
Strain (%)
(a) (b)

Stress-Strain Diagram Grade 650 Stress-Strain Diagram Grade 700

100 100
90 90
80 80
Stress (MPa)

70 70
Stress (MPa)

BU-1-700
60 60
BU-1-650
50 50
40 BU-2-700
40 BU-2-650
30
30
BU-3-650 20 BU-3-700
20
10
10
0
0 0 10 20 30 40
0 10 20 30 40 50
Strain (%) Strain (%)
(c) (d)
FIGURE5. Stress-Strain Diagram for:(a) grade420 MPa; (b) Grade 550 MPa; (c) Grade 650 MPa; (d) Grade 700 MPa

Figure 5(a) show that the yield strength reaches more than 400 MPa, it’s about almost 500 MPa, and tensile
strength reach until more than 600 MPa. We can calculate that the differences from yield and tensile strength can
reach about 1.27 times. Whereas Figure 6(b, c&d) show the yield and tensile strength for high strength steel bar.
For grade 550 MPa, yield strength can reach almost 600 MPa and tensile strength about 700 MPa, for grade 650
MPa, yield strength can reach up to 700 MPa and tensile strength about 850 MPa. And For grade 700 MPa, yield
strength can reach up to 760 MPa and tensile strength about 900 MPa. It can see that the higher the grade of
reinforcing bar, the difference of value of tensile and yield strength is so closely and the ratio is lower than 1.25. It
not satisfied the code requirement.
There are looked (Figure 5) that stress-strain diagram for reinforcing bars grade 420 MPa have longer curve than
another grade. Grade 420 Mpa can reach strain up to 60%, But for another grade reach strain lower than grade 420

020025-6
MPa. For grade 550 MPa reach to 45%, grade 650 reach to 40%, and grade 700 reach to 30%. The highest grade, the
lowest the strain which can reached. For all the shape of stress-strain diagram, only the shape of stress-strain
diagram for grade 420 MPa which have a defined plateau yield point.It means that only grade 420 show location of
yield point exactly.Whereas, another grade not show that.
Based on Figure 6 we can see the differences of stress-strain diagram for various grade of reinforcing bar. The
highest the grade of reinforcing bar so the highest shape of stress-strain diagram.The lowest the grade of reinforcing
bar so the longest the shape of stress strain diagram.

Stress-Strain Diagram for Various Grade of

Bar
100
S-1-550
90
S-1-420
80
70 S-2-420
Stress (MPa)

60 S-3-420

50 S-2-550
40 S-3-550
30 S-1-650
20 S-2-650
10
S-3-650
0
S-1-700
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Strain (%) S-2-700

FIGURE6. Stress- Strain Diagram for various grade rebars

The stress-strain curve of High Strength Steel Bars (550, 650, and 700 MPa) reinforcing bar differs from that
ofGrade 60(420) bar in that the former is without a well-defined yield plateau. The High Strength Steel Bars bar has
a specified minimum yield as determined by the 0.2% offset method, whereas the Grade 60 (420) bar has a specified
minimum yield strength usually determined by observation of a distinct yield point or knee in the stress-strain curve.
Grade 700 Mpa reach yield strength highest than another grade but the strain can have reached only up to 30%.
For grade 420 MPa it reaches yield strength lowest than another grade but can reach strain longer than another
grade, up to 60%. It can have inferred that if the grade of reinforcing bars is high, so yield strength will be high. But,
the shape not long.It because the elongation of reinforcing bar not longer than lower grade This condition makes
these high steel reinforcing bars difficult to use directly in construction without quality improvement.
ASTM 615M-2017 give requirements for reinforcement bar. The requirements are: (1) the value of minimum
and maximumyield strength for many steel grade, (2) minimum ratio tensile and yield strength not less than 1,25, (3)
minimum elongation not less than 10,12, and 14% for various diameter of bar. Based on those requirements, the
sample on this research cannot satisfied those requirements, because the sample reinforcing bars cannot satisfy all
requirements.
Using higher specified yield strength, fy, may result in higher steel stress at service load condition and potentially
cause wider cracks and larger deflections, which may be objectionable if aesthetics and water-tightness are critical
design requirements. Also, with higher fy, the required development length will be longer and may not be
economical and practical for large size bars. Finally, without a well-defined yield plateau, flexural members
designed with High Strength Steel bars may have less deformation capacity than members reinforced with Grade
420 MPa bars.
ACI 318-17 (2017) give limitation of utilization reinforcing bar grade specially on earthquake design. This
limitation is utilizationgrade of reinforcing bar not exceed than 420 MPa for longitudinal reinforcement.It is to give
the sufficient ductility for structure because ductility is a very important factor, especially for seismic design. But for
lateral reinforcement, the high strength steel reinforcing bar can used with fy up to 700 MPa.
It means that for reinforcing bar industrial can produce high steel reinforcing bar without difficulty.But the
produce cannot appropriate with all code requirement specification, especially for earthquake reinforcement

020025-7
concrete design.So, we can use the reinforcing bar for specific reinforcement that is not need the special
requirements.

CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the results, the following conclusions can be drawn:
1. The highest the grade of reinforcing bars so the highest shape of stress strain diagram and the lowest the
grade so the longestshape of stress strain diagram.
2. Just grade of reinforcing barunder 500Mpa which have the yield plateau point in stress strain diagram.But
the higher-grade reinforcing bars lack well defined yield point
3. So, for design reinforcement concrete with high strength steel bars needed idealized the stress-strain curve to
ensure that the design reinforcement concreteis appropriate

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of. Bhirawa Steel Company for sponsoring this Study and
supplying the steel materials.The authors would also like to thank the technical staff Bhirawa Steel Company who
helped this study.

REFERENCES
1. ACI ITG-6R-10, “Design Guide for the Use of ASTM A1035/A1035M Grade 100 (690) Steel Bars for
Structural Concrete”, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hill, MI, (2010),
2. ASTM A370-16, Standard Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing of steel Products, ASTM
International, West Conshohocken, PA, (2016)
3. ASTM A615/A615M-06, “Standard Specification for Deformed and Plain Carbon-Steel for Concrete
Reinforcement,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, (2004), 6 pp
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Reinforcement”, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, (2007)
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339-347

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