The behavior of heated damaged shear-deficient RC beams reinforced internally with welded wire mesh

Abstract

This study implemented an innovative application that integrated WWM as internal shear reinforcement for reinforced concrete (RC) beams. It provides an assessment of this technique's role in enhancing the structural shear capacity before and after being exposed to escalated temperatures. WWM is simple to cut into the desired dimensions and affixed directly to the steel bars without adherent materials. Like the steel shear stirrups, The WWM integrates, totally, with both the RC beam’s concrete and steel bars, where concrete confines them. WWM technique is viable for newly-built RC structural elements and does not apply to retrofit the already-standing elements. For retrofitting purposes, installing an external WWM is a familiar practice. The study parameters were: the WWM layers, the area, and the levels of elevated temperatures. The study monitored structural performance in terms of the ultimate strength, deflection, stiffness, and toughness. The obtained results have shown that the internally installed WWM showed significant effectiveness in enhancing the shear capacity of exposed-to-elevated-temperature RC beams. To predict the severity of damage and the shear capacity of heat-damaged RC beams, a novel guideline is presented, consisting of internally reinforced with WWM; taking into account the effect of the temperature level on the number of WWM's layers. This study's findings have clearly shown that WWM is efficient in enhancing the internal shear reinforcement of exposed-to-escalated-temperature RC beams.