Prefabricated modular rebar modules and methods of using the same

Abstract

There is provided a reinforcing steel structure for use in a concrete building wall. The structure includes one or more prefabricated, welded cages having vertical reinforcing bars. A plurality of continuous ties extends around the vertical reinforcing bars and a plurality of shear ties extends generally horizontally between the vertical reinforcing bars. Each welded cage is sized and shaped for shipping and said structure can be formed onsite from a plurality of said cages lapped together. Concrete is added to the reinforcing steel structure to form a concrete building wall. There is also provided a reinforcing steel structure for use in a concrete building transfer or raft slab. The structure includes one or more prefabricated, welded beams. The prefabricated, welded beams have a top beam layer and a bottom beam layer, each having horizontal reinforcing bars, and a plurality of continuous ties extending generally vertically around the top and bottom beam layers. Each welded beam is sized and shaped for shipping and said structure can be formed onsite from a plurality of said beams lapped together. Concrete is added to the reinforcing steel structure to form a concrete building slab.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reinforcing steel structure for use in a concrete building wall, the structure comprising:
 one or more prefabricated, welded cages having vertical reinforcing bars;   a plurality of continuous ties extending around the vertical reinforcing bars and a plurality of shear ties extending generally horizontally between the vertical reinforcing bars; and   wherein each welded cage is sized and shaped for shipping and said structure can be formed onsite from a plurality of said cages lapped together.   
     
     
         2 . The reinforcing steel structure of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of shear ties have a hook end and a flat end, and the plurality of shear ties are arranged between the vertical reinforcing bars in an alternating parallel pattern with the hook ends of each adjacent shear tie facing in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         3 . The reinforcing steel structure of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of the one or more prefabricated, welded cages and the reinforcing steel structure further comprising a pair of welded cages placed adjacent and parallel to each other for use in a single length of a concrete building wall and having a plurality of lap bars extending generally horizontally between overlapping adjacent ends of the pair of welded cages. 
     
     
         4 . The reinforcing steel structure of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of the one or more prefabricated, welded cages and the reinforcing steel structure further comprising a corner pair of welded cages placed adjacent and perpendicular to each other for use in two adjoining walls forming a corner of a concrete building wall and having a plurality of u-caps extending generally horizontally around adjacent ends of the pair of welded cages. 
     
     
         5 . The reinforcing steel structure of  claim 4  further comprising a parallel pair of welded cages placed adjacent and parallel to each other for use in a single length of a concrete building wall and having a plurality of lap bars extending generally horizontally within the vertically reinforcing bars and between overlapping adjacent ends of the parallel pair of welded cages. 
     
     
         6 . The reinforcing steel structure of  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of lap bars extending generally horizontally within the vertical reinforcing bars and between the corner pair of welded cages. 
     
     
         7 . The reinforcing steel structure of any of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein each of the one or more prefabricated, welded cages have dimensions equal to or less than 12 feet by 12 feet by 60 feet. 
     
     
         8 . A method of constructing a reinforcing steel structure for use in a concrete building wall, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality prefabricated, welded cages having vertical reinforcing bars at a worksite, each of the plurality of prefabricated, welded cages having a plurality of continuous ties extending around the vertical reinforcing bars and a plurality of shear ties extending generally horizontally between the vertical reinforcing bars; and   installing the plurality of prefabricated, welded cages at a worksite;   installing reinforcing steel bars between the plurality of prefabricated, welded cages to form a reinforcing steel structure; and   adding concrete to the reinforcing steel structure to form a concrete building wall.