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| Positional couplers for concrete reinforcement  Hy-Ten, a pioneer in the use of friction welded couplers in the United Kingdom, has extended the range to include positional couplers. The new couplers have been fully tested and certified by CARES, the certification authority for reinforcement steel. Director Richard Webster commented, "We launched our standard range of friction welded couplers just 12 months ago and the concept has been enthusiastically accepted by both engineers and contractors. The new positional couplers extend the application of this concept into areas where reinforcement bars are immovable. They permit secure interconnection using a dual threaded sleeve to bring the reinforcement bars together securely."The major advantage of the new system is that it will greatly speed site construction times. Coupling reinforcement bars becomes a simple speedy process that needs no special tools or extended training. By the use of reverse cut threads it is possible to link together both reinforcement bars by turning the sleeve in one direction. Friction welding is a new concept in construction, but the technology has been proven in both aerospace and automotive applications, where joints formed by this method are subject to extreme stress and millions of cycles of operation. Hy-Ten has invested heavily in machines that securely hold the bar while rotating the coupler at ultra high speed so that the mating surfaces plasticise and achieve fusing temperature. This low temperature welding creates a joint that is far stronger than can be achieved by conventional welding and causes less bar and coupler distortion. Cares have tested both the HT (P) and HT (EP) couplers in the 16mm to 40mm diameter range. These meet the requirement of BS8110 for the coupling of high yield carbon steel bars complying with BS4449 grade B500B. The manufacturing process for the couplers takes place under ISO9001 quality management systems. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Construction News :: home page |