Use of Steel Fibers with Active Enamel Coating for Lap Spice Confinement in Masonry Walls
SourceSteel with a patented active porcelain enamel coating was shown to improve the bond between the concrete and steel reinforcement as well as its corrosion resistance. This technology has been applied to steel fibers that reinforce concrete systems with significant improvements in performance. Preliminary testing indicated that active ceramic coatings on small-diameter wire significantly improved the bond between the wires and concrete to the point where the wires achieved yield before pullout with no negative effect on their strength. As part of an investigation into the use of these coated wires, the effectiveness of these wires in confining lap splices in the grouted cores of reinforced masonry walls was investigated. This paper reports on the findings of this portion of the investigation and makes recommendations for this type of use.