A new ASTM International standard, soon to be published as A1096, Test Method for Evaluating the Bond Quality of Steel Wire for Concrete Reinforcement, will help concrete manufacturers that use steel wires in their products. The standard was inspired by the assessment of concrete railroad ties that used indented prestressing wires which had possible bond-related cracking problems, according to ASTM member Robert Peterman, the Mark H. and Margaret H. Hulings Chair in Engineering, Kansas State University.
Peterman notes that a Kansas State University research team found that wires with low bond quality can lead to structural deficiency while wires that bond too quickly – often those near the surface of the concrete – can cause longitudinal splitting along the wires. The new standard will help establish an acceptable bond range that corresponds to the specific needs of a prestressed concrete manufacturer, allowing for better specification in purchases and better standardized testing.
Precast & Block Production
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