What is Mechanical Coupler

Reinforced concrete design and construction practice has historically focused on the use of lap splicing as a method of transferring load between reinforcement bars. This relies on the load being transferred from one rebar, through the surrounding concrete and into the adjacent lapped rebar. However, the lapping of reinforcement is not always the most appropriate splicing method and there are many situations where the use of mechanical rebar couplers is more desirable from a design perspective, more convenient from a construction perspective, or both. Rebar coupler systems, sometimes also known as mechanical splices/Mechanical Couplers, are used as an alternative to traditional lap splices in concrete.

Couplers are hollow mechanical members used to join reinforcement bars.These are threaded on the inside and are fixed on to the two rebars which are to be joined to form a mechanical joint.They transmit the rebar load directly from one rebar to another without relying on concrete bond, concrete strength, or the condition of the concrete surrounding the rebar and coupler.

The use of rebar couplers reduces steel consumption and can therefore be an environmentally friendly and more sustainable option than lapping. The steel saved is equivalent to the lap length.

Why do we need mechanical couplers/Benefits?