Performance of RC Columns Confined with Welded Wire Mesh Around External and Internal Concrete Cores

Abstract

-Effectiveness of locally available welded wire mesh (WWM) as an additional confinement in reinforced concrete square columns was evaluated under axial loads. For this purpose three groups of 200×200×975mm square column specimens were cast with different arrangement of locally available WWM and conventional stirrups. In group-1, specimens were confined with ties and WWM wrapped around inner core of specimen. In group-2 specimens, WWM was wrapped around outer core and in group-3, specimens were prepared with conventional ties only. Three specimens were also cast without any reinforcement. The investigation concluded that the axial capacity of columns in group-1 and 2 was 8.5% and 15.7% higher than group-3 specimens. Core concrete strength was improved by 14.6 % and 23 % for specimens of group 1 and 2 respectively as compared with group 3. Strength enhancement factor was also improved by 10.25% and 18% respectively. The study concluded that WWM as an additional confinement improves the performance of RC columns in terms of overall strength, core concrete strength and strength enhancement factor. However the efficiency of specimen with WWM wrapped around the external core is superior to the specimen confined with mesh wrapped around the internal core.