Reinforced concrete – a composite material where the low tensile strength of concrete is compensated by the high tensile strength of reinforcement – is widely used on virtually any type of structure.

For decades, steel has been successfully used as reinforcement because of the many well-known advantages it provides. However, certain properties of steel, like electrical and thermal conductivity, magnetism, and most importantly, low resistance to corrosion, may negatively affect the performance of reinforced concrete structures.

Fiber Reinforced Polymers are increasingly used as an alternative solution, with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers providing the best value in terms of ratio of cost to mechanical properties. A result of a unique manufacturing technology, Fiberline ComBAR GFRP is the industry leader in quality

ComBAR® by Fiberline - Technical Information (PDF) [1]

Download the Fiberline Design Manual (.pdf - 5Mb) [2]

Unsurpassed properties

ComBAR^® by Fiberline is a ribbed reinforcing bar made of corrosion resistant glass fibres that are bound by a vinylester resin. The high-quality components and the unique manufacturing process deliver an outstanding product that meets the demands of the most complex construction projects.

ComBAR^® is

• highly durable
• much stronger than steel
• corrosion resistant
• non-magnetic or magnetisable
• not electrically or thermally conductive
• easily machinable
• significantly lighter than steel.

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Long lasting high-strength

ComBAR^® is substantially stronger than steel with a much greater service life. The high fibre content of ComBAR® (approx. 88 % by weight) and the parallel alignment of the fibres result in maximum strength of the material. The vinyl ester resin is diffusion tight. Every glass fibre is completely encased by resin which ensures maximum durability in concrete (100 years). ComBAR^® is special due to a two-part manufacturing process that has been engineered to meet the demands of reinforcing bars.

1. Pultrusion: high-strength glass fibres, bundled as densely as possible, are pulled through a closed chamber where they are impregnated with a synthetic resin.
2. Profiling: ribs are cut into the hardened bars and given a final coating and labeling.

The result: a reinforcing material with unique structural, physical and chemical characteristics with great bond properties.

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ComBAR^® in bridges or infrastructures

Infrastructures often have to be repaired or replaced because the steel reinforcement within them has corroded destroying the concrete microstructure. This particularly applies to bridges exposed to de-icing salts. When ComBAR^® is installed, corrosion problems are eliminated. New high speed rail links and streetcar lines are usually built using ballasted rail slabs. The continuous rails serve as an electrical medium for the signal transmission. The reinforcing steel in the rail slabs must be intricately grounded to allow the undisturbed transmission of these signals. When ComBAR^® is installed, these grounding measures are unnecessary as the bar does not conduct electric currents. It may even be installed in close proximity to the induction coils used to operate rail switches.

ComBAR^® does not corrode and does not conduct electric currents. It is therefore the perfect reinforcing material for

• bridge decks
• bridge curbs
• barrier and parapet walls on bridges
• sidewalks on bridges
• sound barriers
• ballasted rail slabs
• airfields

ComBAR^® does not conduct electric currents. It is, therefore, ideally suited for installations in

• enclosures and foundations of transformers and reactors
• switchyards
• steel mills
• aluminum smelters
• industrial facilities

ComBAR^® is electromagnetically nonconductive and therefore ideally suited for installation in

• hospitals (MRI)
• nano-technology centres
• laboratories for solid-state physics
• industrial floors of driverless transport systems

As it is corrosion resistant and resistant to acids and bases, ComBAR^® is ideal for the installation in aggressive environments, such as

• shoreline reinforcements and quay walls
• facade elements
• parking garages (even without coatings)
• industrial floors
• swimming pools
• waste water treatment plants
• harbours
• dams

Because it is easily machined, ComBAR^® is ideally suited for components which need to be cut or drilled through.

• soft-eyes in shaft walls at tunnelling projects
• diaphragm walls
• drilled pile walls
• form-work anchors
• temporary concrete buildings