Enhancing Ductility of One-Way Concrete Slabs Reinforced With Welded Wire Reinforcement

A series of research studies have recently identified an issue called strain localization in welded wire reinforced (WWR) members. This phenomenon reportedly concentrates strains at welded cross wire locations and severely limit ductility. Those that identified the phenomenon used it to imply that WWR is unsafe because it does not warn of failure. This dissertation is investigating details to mitigate the strain localization effect and demonstrate the WWR can be used safely. A moment curvature analysis is developed using Response2000 program and calibrated using experimental data. Parametric study was developed to present a recommendation of details and minimum reinforcement required for WWR slabs. The effect of different types of WWR coating on mechanical properties were investigated. The dissertation next examined the effects of strain rate on the mechanical properties of WWR and traditional rebar. In total, fifty four slabs have been constructed using WWR and rebar with various cross wire spacing, using a realistic design. The strain localization phenomenon was not demonstrated, but WWR slabs are somewhat less ductile than traditionally reinforced members. The WWR members were shown to provide adequate ductility for warning of impending failure visually and with a well-accepted ductility measure. The WWR members were also shown the ability of load redistribution. The effect of coating demonstrates that both galvanizing WWR and coating WWR with epoxy has a positive effect on mechanical properties, along with adding corrosion resistance. The effect of strain rate shows that increase in loading rate tend to increase the yield and ultimate stresses and percent area reduction, however the loading rate increase does not have a significant effect on elastic modulus, elongation and uniform elongation