Wire Mesh for Concrete in Germany
In Germany, usage of wire mesh for reinforcing concrete has become increasingly popular in the past years. Not only is the production of concrete that utilizes wire mesh safer, but it also greatly increases the overall strength and durability of the finished product.
Wire mesh is a type of grid structure, composed of intersecting steel wires and welded Node points. The material is usually made of mild or hot-dip galvanized high–yield steel or stainless steel. Although traditionally steel wire mesh was used in the construction industry, it is now also used in developing reinforced concrete products. There are two types of wire mesh used in concrete reinforcement, depending on the application; uni-directional and bi-directional. Unidirectional wire mesh is suitable for applications that require only one direction of reinforcement, such as slabs and walls. Biaxial wire mesh is used for applications that require reinforcement from both directions, such as columns, walls and beams.
Wire mesh can be used for the production of many different concrete-reinforced products, such as pre-stressed concrete beams and joists, rebar concrete wall panels and sheets, precast and tilt-up walls and columns, as well as a variety of other components. Its wide-ranging applications make it a popular choice for many construction companies in Germany.
Wire mesh is also commonly used to strengthen and increase the stability of bridge deck structures and prevent cracking and spalling. The wire mesh is embedded in the concrete and helps to transfer the load from the concrete to the steel, without allowing it to crack or break. This helps to drastically increase the load-bearing capacity and lifetime of the structure, when compared with structures that use traditional steel reinforcement.
In Germany, there are various standards and specifications imposed on wire mesh used for concrete reinforcement. Some of these standards are prescribed by the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN). The most commonly-used steel wire mesh is made of hot-dip galvanized high yield steel, with a nominal diameter ranging from 5 to 16 mm. The DIN norm also provides specifications for the construction techniques for wire mesh, including the type of Node intersections, the wire diameter and the distance between wires.
Wire mesh can be an effective and cost-efficient solution for reinforcing concrete in many applications. Its strength and durability, along with its convenience of use make it one of the most popular options for concrete reinforcement in Germany.
