ABSTRACT
The ordinary U-stirrups have always been used especially in beams as web reinforcement in most modern construction. As a probable substitute, here wire wesh of 3mm diameter is used to reinforce beams in shear. The investigation thus involves testing of beams reinforced in shear separately with the ordinary U-stirrups and with wire mesh. The beams are all the same with the only difference being in the web reinforcement. Apart from the mesh being easier to fabricate, the analysis of the results obtained shows that beam with the ordinary U-stirrups recorded more strains in the concrete than those with wire mesh. Moreover, crack control is better in the beams with mesh as their formation and propagation was more gradual leading to a gradual failure of the beams. However, it is recommended that a basic formular for calculating the theoritical shear resistance of beams involving mesh be deviced to include the influence of the horizontal members of the mesh on the shear resistance.