Dextra Bartec couplers are a game-changer in airport construction

In this discussion, Bhargav Jog from Dextra discusses the company’s exclusive product portfolio and solutions for airport construction.

Can you describe the products and solutions you offer for airport construction?
Our key offerings for airport construction include rebar couplers (Bartec, Rolltec, Fortec, Griptec), which enable faster and safer reinforcement splicing, ideal for runways, terminal columns, and transfer slabs; headed bars, anchorage systems that help reduce congestion in heavily reinforced areas; post-tensioning bars (PC and PT bars), used in roof structures, anchorage systems, and structural strengthening; tension rod systems, essential in long-span roof trusses and space frames in terminal buildings and hangars; GFRP rebars, a corrosion-resistant reinforcement solution used in airport structures exposed to de-icing salts or moist environments like taxiways; and ground anchors and tie bars, used in excavation retention, foundation stabilisation, and embankment structures.

Please elaborate on the “Bartec rebar coupler solution” and the “parallel thread technology” you offer for airport construction.
The Bartec rebar coupler is our flagship mechanical splicing solution and is advantageous, whereas lap splicing is not viable. In airport construction, Bartec is commonly used in large pile caps, transfer beams, core walls and columns, and runway reinforcement transitions. It uses parallel thread technology, which offers several advantages: Reliable performance: The threads are cut parallel after a cold-forging operation, which enlarges the rebar end, ensuring full cross-sectional engagement and structural integrity. Ease of installation: Bartec couplers are designed to be quick and easy to install with minimal training, facilitating high-volume, fast-schedule tasks like airport construction. High load transfer: Bartec ensures consistent and high load transfer (tension, compression, cyclic) and meets international performance standards like ACI 318, Eurocode 2, and BS 8110. No torque-control needed: The design eliminates the need for precise torque control during installation, reducing human error.

How are your solutions tailored to address the “heavy lifting process” in roof structures during airport terminal expansion?
Key solutions by Dextra in heavy lifting and preassembly of large-span roof structures include tension rod systems, which are ideal for section-wise lifting of large-span trusses and space frames and provide both structural support and aesthetic value; PT and high-strength bars, which can be used as temporary or permanent structural members, including as tensioning systems; and preassembled coupler systems, which allow segments to be prefabricated offsite and assembled onsite with mechanical splicing.

Do you offer customised products for airports located in seismic-prone regions?
Our customised offerings for airports in seismic zones across Asia, the Middle East, India, and the Americas include seismic-certified rebar couplers, qualified as per ISO 15835 and ACI 318 and ensuring ductile failure modes and energy dissipation; seismic tension rod systems, available in high-grade steel and with ETA approval; and custom detailing support, where our engineering team and consultants collaborate to optimise connection detailing in seismic joints and critical load paths.

Challenges with rebars in airport construction include corrosion, clashes with other structural elements in roofing, and the requirement of rebar detailing. How does Dextra address these challenges?
We address these through product innovation, technical support, and integrated design collaboration. Corrosion: our GFRP rebars are non-corrosive and ideal for airport zones exposed to chemical attacks. Clashes and congestion: our mechanical splicing systems eliminate the need for long lap lengths, reducing steel congestion and allowing for easier integration with MEP services and post-tensioning ducts. Rebar detailing: We provide free BIM-ready product libraries and detailing support that ensures seamless integration with architectural models, minimises rework, and supports clash detection during the design phase.

For more details, visit: https://www.dextragroup.com/