Abstract
In construction education, particularly in Civil Construction Technology courses, students often face challenges when manually bending rebars, especially when forming precise 90° and 135° angles for lateral ties and stirrups due to inappropriate and custom-made or improvised bending tools. In order to close this gap, the research “Developing an Enhanced Bending Tool for Laboratory Tasks in the Civil Construction Technology Course” presents a dependable and simple-to-use tool for simplifying the bending of 10mm–12mm rebars. The tool features a fixed mechanical design comprising welded flat bars, various diameter rods (16mm, 20mm, and 25mm), a lever handle, a bolt-and-nut assembly, and a foldable base for easy mounting on wooden work surfaces. The tool was conceptualized, built, and refined using a developmental research approach at Caraga State University, Cabadbaran City. Structured surveys that included students and experts from the mechanical, metalworking, and construction sectors were used to evaluate the product’s performance. The findings demonstrated compelling proof of its functionality in important areas, including its strength. Enhancements to the tool include a stronger bolt joint and a stopper mechanism that improves bend consistency and safety. According to the results, the improved bending tool is a helpful and successful alternative to conventional manual techniques, significantly increasing the accuracy, safety, and ease of rebar bending. With additional advancements and the possibility for increased production, this device has potential for applications in laboratories and wider use in fieldwork and construction education.
Keywords: Fixed Mounting, Foldable, Lateral Ties, Rebar Bending Tool, Stirrups.