The use of low ductility welded wire mesh in the design of suspended reinforced concrete slabs

摘要

The introduction of a 20% penalty on strength of slabs reinforced with low ductility welded wire meshes in Australian local slab construction is the cause of some controversy, with the steel reinforcement industry reluctant to accept such a penalty. This paper highlights the design concerns with regards to the continued use of L-Class steels and places the current state of the science into context. Some of the issues relating to strain localisation and its effect on fracture of reinforcing bars, and on the system ductility of one-way slabs containing low quantities of small diameter low ductile bars, are also discussed.