Concrete Columns

Column steel utilizing Welded Wire Reinforcement can take several forms, column ties, complete column cages and wire reinforcement grids.

Column ties in ordinary reinforced columns can be designed in a single sheet of mesh with closely spaced wires at the top and bottom. The sheet is then bent on a mesh bender into a square or rectangle to fit the shape of the column. The edges of the sheet are bent to provide either 90 degree or 135 degree hooks, this cage is then supplemented with rebar acting as the vertical column steel. Tying these column cages off-site prior to scheduling the concrete placement can speed up the construction cycle.

In the early 1980’s reinforced concrete moment resistant frames on the West Coast, started using WWR column ties and beam stirrups of large size wire at close spacing. Building Codes require confinement steel at a very close spacing and by using a higher strength steel for the WWR column ties, an entire column cage could be assembled in much less time. In large columns, multiple sheets of mesh make up the column cage of ties. Each sheet of WWR is designed so that the wires are not in conflict with each other when put together to form a completed cage.

» See also Concrete Column Confinement Ties