Welded wire reinforcing, concrete reinforcing

Welded Wire Reinforcing

Welded Wire Reinforcement (WWR) is commonly used as concrete reinforcement throughout the construction industry because of its high product strength and inherent labor saving properties. WWR’s strength results from the cold-working process of wire manufacturing and its welded intersections. Per ASTM A497/497M Standard specifications, and depending on building code permissions, welded deformed wire reinforcement can have a yield strength of up to 80 ksi, compared with hot-rolled rebar’s yield strength of 60 ksi, independent of size.

The 1995 edition of ACI 318, for the first time, permitted the use of 80 ksi yield strength wire and WWR in shear reinforcement applications. This opened the door for designers and contractors to utilize high strength WWR sheets and cages that use less steel and require less placing time and labor, lending further economy in these construction applications.

Today, WWR is commonly replacing rebar in projects that call for sizes #3 to #6 – delivering superior reinforcement properties and lowering overall costs. Even when #7 and larger rebar is specified, WWR products, utilizing reduced wire spacing, can be substituted. Additionally, WWR can significantly reduce placement time and labor costs. A small crew can quickly and accurately place preassembled sheets and cages, which may range from 1 to 17 feet wide and up to 60-plus feet long. Inspection of WWR is simpler and faster primarily because wire spacing is held to tight tolerances and bent or rolled shapes are uniform and precise throughout the entire WWR sheet.

Machine Resistance Welding – Pressure and heat fuse the intersecting wires into a homogeneous section and fix all wires in their proper position.

Structural WWR provides an economical alternative to tied-in-place rebar. Increasingly, engineers are replacing rebar with the stronger and more versatile WWR. Why?

Quicker Installation: The welded grid pattern reduces labor by eliminating the need to tie individual rebar together.

Faster Inspections: Wires are precisely machine spaced and welded when sheets are manufactured so field inspections are quick and easy.

Eliminates Oversteeling: WWR is custom manufactured to your design specifications, providing the exact steel area required – no waste.

Reduces Cost: Compared to grade 60 rebar, WWR’s greater strength often reduces the amount of steel required, in some cases by as much as 25%. No wire company has more experience custom manufacturing WWR products for concrete construction projects than Ivy Steel & Wire.

Lighter: WWR is custom manufactured to exact design specifications so there is no oversteeling. In addition, pound per pound WWR is stronger than rebar resulting in less overall weight for your project. The lighter weight reduces transportation costs and eases placement.