Title:
Use of WWF as Lateral Reinforcement in Concrete Beams: Part 2 – Flexure
Author(s):
Abdelaziz Younes, Sami W. Tabsh, Yazan Alhoubi
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
beam confinement; ductility; flexure; reinforced concrete; stiffness; welded wire fabric; welded wire mesh
DOI:
10.14359/51738509
Date:
1/16/2023
Abstract:
Past studies had shown that welded wire fabric (WWF) can be used as an effective alternative to stirrups in resisting shear in reinforced concrete beams. Such a form of reinforcement reduces labor, decreases the time required to assemble the steel cage, and eliminates anomalies in the fabrication and placement of the stirrups. This study investigated the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams transversely reinforced with closed steel cages made by cold-formed WWF sheets. To accomplish the goals of the study, seventeen 2 m [6.6 ft]-long beams with 200 mm [8 in.] by 300 mm [12 in.] cross-sections were tested under a two-point load configuration with consideration of different wire diameters (4, 6, and 8 mm [0.16, 0.24, and 0.32 in.]), grid openings (25, 50, and 100 mm [1, 2, and 4 in.]), and longitudinal steel reinforcement ratios (0.77% and 1.92%). A comparison between the test results of WWF-reinforced beams and their equivalent stirrup-reinforced beams was performed. The experimental study was accompanied by a theoretical component utilizing the flexural design provisions in ACI 318 concrete design code. Compared to corresponding beams having stirrups equivalent to the vertical wires of the WWF, the WWF reinforced beams had on average 20% more flexural capacity, just about the same stiffness at service load, and 10% less flexural ductility. The average experimental-to-nominal flexural capacity based on the ACI 318 code of concrete beams enclosed with WWF is equal to 1.15, which indicates that the code can be reliably used to predict the bending moment capacity of such beams. The study recommends always using longitudinal rebars in WWF-reinforced beams and not relying solely on the longitudinal wires of the WWF for resisting flexure.