HOW TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT WIDTH OF THE REINFORCEMENT?

The coating with mortar of the masonry reinforcement is a fundamental requirement to ensure the protection of the steel from corrosion. 

Therefore, when it comes to getting this benefit, the conditions of coating have different importance according to the finishing of the masonry reinforcement. However, the coating is also an essential requirement for the proper transmission of forces of adhesion in the overlap areas and this is common for all the masonry reinforcements with structural use, independently of the type of finish. 

In order to achieve this provision, you must respect the minimum thickness of coating, both upper and lower, as well as lateral. Side coating in the areas of overlap is essential so that there is the transmission of efforts between the piece of reinforcement and the adjoining one, this circumstance must be taken into account when choosing the width of the reinforcement so that it is appropriate to the thickness of the wall. 

If the reinforcement does not have a specific design for the overlap, you must limit your width to allow the correct covering along the reinforcement longitudinally.

IS THE ADHESION OF THE MASONRY REINFORCEMENT IMPORTANT?

The adhesion of the reinforcement, if you are using the truss-type, does not intervene with the transmission of
forces between the first and last node of the truss. The transmission of forces in these sections is performed
entirely through the diagonal wires, even without mortar, by virtue of their geometrical configuration, indeformable in their plane.

 

Where it is really essential for the adherence of transmission of forces between the ends of pieces of reinforcement where the truss ends. This is why the overlap needs, a length proportionate to the forces that are transmitted and adequate cover in the overlap area.
To transfer the maximum force that it can withstand equally in the reinforcement, a sufficient overlap length of 250mm is needed (this value must be verified by tests).
To achieve the adequate transfer of adhesion and forces in the overlap areas, the wires must be spaced  when overlapping to a distance equal to their diameter.

DOES AN INCREASE IN THE STRENGTH OF THE STEEL THAT IS USED IN THE REINFORCEMENT IMPROVE THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE WALL?

For control of cracking, the strength of the steel in the reinforcement has no influence on the amount of reinforcement needed, only the area of the crosssection.

When the reinforcement is assigned a structural role, the fact the steel is stronger, does not mean necessarily that you reduce the amount of reinforcement in the same proportions. Because by the requirements of the minimum amount, in the vast majority of cases, steel does not display even half of the resistance. It is the parameter of steel reinforcement which really improves the mechanical performance in the wall, on account of its ductility, not of the resistance.

For this reason, to prevent cracking and for the transmission of forces it is preferable that the steel has a high percentage of deformation at failure (that is the parameter which determines ductility) than high resistance.

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