Designation: A 497 – 99e1

Standard Specification for

Steel Welded Wire Fabric, Deformed, for Concrete
Reinforcement1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 497; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

e1 NOTE—An editorial change was made in 15.3 in June 2001.

1. Scope cages for certain applications of concrete pipe reinforcing.

1.1 This specification covers welded wire fabric made from Only non-deformed wire is normally subject to convolution.
cold-worked drawn or rolled deformed wire, or a combination 3.1.2 welded wire fabric, n—as used within the scope and
of deformed and non-deformed wires, to be used for the intent of this specification, welded wire fabric designates a
reinforcement of concrete. material composed of cold-worked steel wire, fabricated into
1.2 The values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to sheets or rolls by the process of electric resistance welding. The
be regarded as the standard. Within the text the inch-pound finished material shall consist essentially of a series of longi-
units are shown in parenthesis. The values stated in each tudinal and transverse wires arranged substantially at right
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must angles to each other, and welded together at points of intersec-
be used independently of the other. Combining values may tion.
result in nonconformance with the specification. 4. Ordering Information
2. Referenced Documents 4.1 Orders for material to this specification should include
2.1 ASTM Standards: the following information:
A 82 Specification for Steel Wire, Plain, for Concrete Re- 4.1.1 Quantity (weight or square area),
inforcement2 4.1.2 Name of material (deformed welded wire fabric for
A 496 Specification for Steel Wire, Deformed, for Concrete concrete reinforcement),
Reinforcement2 4.1.3 Wire spacings and sizes,
A 700 Practices for Packaging, Marking, and Loading 4.1.4 Minimum yield strength if Supplement S1 of Specifi-
Methods for Steel Products for Domestic Shipment3 cation A 496 applies; and minimum yield strength if wire
2.2 Military Standards: conforming to Specification A 82 is to be used and Supplement
MIL-STD-129 Marking for Shipment and Storage4 S1 of Specification A 82 applies.
MIL-STD-163 Steel Mill Products Preparation for Ship- 4.1.5 Exclusion of over-steeling, if required (see 9.4.1),
ment and Storage4 4.1.6 Length and width of sheets or rolls,
2.3 Federal Standard: 4.1.7 Packaging (see Section 16), and
Fed. Std. No. 123 Marking for Shipments (Civil Agencies)4 4.1.8 ASTM designation and year of issue.
NOTE 1—A typical ordering description is as follows: 10 000 ft2 welded
3. Terminology deformed wire fabric for concrete reinforcement, 6 3 12–D63 D2, in flat
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: sheets 96 in. wide by 240 in. long, in secured lifts, to ASTM A 497 – ____.
3.1.1 convoluted wire, n—when wire for welded fabric is
shaped into a sinusoidal wave shape, it is commonly referred to 5. Materials
as convoluted wire. The wire is used in the manufacture of 5.1 The wire used in the manufacture of welded wire fabrics
shall conform to Specification A 496 and its Supplement S1 if
1
so ordered, either solely or in combination with wire conform-
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-1 on Steel,
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
ing to Specification A 82 and its Supplement S1 if so ordered.
A01.05 on Steel Reinforcement. 5.2 Welded wire fabric shall be furnished either in flat
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1999. Published December 1999. Originally sheets, or in rolls, as specified by the purchaser.
published as A 497 – 64. Last previous edition A 497 – 97.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.04. 6. Manufacture
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.05.
4
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Building 4, Section D, 6.1 The wires shall be assembled by automatic machines or
700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 A 497
by other suitable mechanical means which will assure accurate requirements for weld shear strength if the average of the four
spacing and alignment of all members of the finished fabric. samples complies with the value stipulated in 7.3. If the
6.2 Longitudinal and transverse members shall be securely average fails to meet the prescribed value, all the welds across
connected at every intersection by a process of electrical- the specimen shall then be tested. The fabric will be acceptable
resistance welding which employs the principle of fusion if the average of all weld shear test values across the specimen
combined with pressure. meets the prescribed minimum value.
6.3 Wire of proper grade and quality when fabricated in the
manner herein required shall result in a strong, serviceable 8. Weld Shear Test Apparatus and Methods
mesh-type product having substantially square or rectangular 8.1 As the welds in welded wire fabric contribute to the
openings. It shall be fabricated and finished in a workmanlike bonding and anchorage value of the wires in concrete, it is
manner, shall be free of injurious defects, and shall conform to imperative that the weld acceptance tests be made in a jig
this specification. which will stress the weld in a manner similar to which it is
NOTE 2—A variation of manufacturing includes the application of one
stressed in concrete. In order to accomplish this, the vertical
or more longitudinal convoluted wires at one edge of fabric for concrete wire in the jig must be stressed in an axis close to its center
pipe reinforcing cages. This shape allows the cage ends to be expanded to line. Also the horizontal wire must be held closely to the
a larger diameter to accommodate the bell-shaped ends of concrete pipe. vertical wire, and in the same relative position, so as to prevent
rotation of the horizontal wire. When the fabric is designed
7. Mechanical Property Requirements with different wire sizes, the larger diameter wire is the
7.1 Tensile—Wire for the production of welded wire fabric, “vertical wire’’ when tested (see Fig. 15).
deformed, is described in Specification A 496. Tensile tests 8.2 Fig. 1 shows the details of a typical testing jig together
may be made on wire cut from the welded wire fabric and with two anvils which make it possible to test welds for wire
tested either across or between the welds; no less than 50 % up to 15.9 mm (0.625 in.) in diameter. This testing jig can be
shall be across welds. Tensile tests across a weld shall have the used in most tension testing machines and should be hung in a
welded joint located approximately at the center of the wire ball and socket arrangement at the center of the machine. This,
being tested and the cross wire forming the welded joint shall or a similarly effective fixture designed on the same principle,
extend approximately 25 mm (1 in.) beyond each side of the is acceptable.
welded joint. 8.3 Test specimens should be inserted through the notch in
the anvil using the smallest notch available in which the
NOTE 3—Tensile and bend testing are normally done at the time wire is
drawn. The manufacturer’s finished product still must satisfy the mechani-
vertical wire will fit loosely. The vertical wire shall be in
cal properties when tested after fabrication. contact with the surface of the free rotating rollers while the
horizontal wire shall be supported by the anvil on each side of
7.2 Bend Test—The wire shall withstand the bend test as the slot. The bottom jaws of the testing machine shall grip the
described in Specification A 496 and shall be performed on a lower end of the vertical wire and the load shall be applied at
specimen taken from between the welds. a rate of stressing not to exceed 689 MPa/min (100 ksi/min).
7.3 Weld Shear Strength—The weld shear strength between
longitudinal and transverse wires shall be tested as described in 9. Dimensions
Section 8. The minimum average shear value in pounds-force 9.1 Width—The width of fabric shall be considered to be the
shall not be less than 35 000, multiplied by the nominal area of center-to-center distance between outside longitudinal wires.
the larger wire in square inches (or in Newtons, shall not be The permissible variation shall not exceed 13 mm (0.5 in.)
less than 241, multiplied by the nominal area in square greater or less than the specified width. In case the width of flat
millimetres), where the smaller wire is not less than size D4 sheets or rolls is specified as the overall width (tip-to-tip length
and has an area of 40 % or more of the area of the larger wire. of cross wires), the width shall not vary more than 625 mm
7.3.1 Fabric having a relationship of larger and smaller (61 in.) from the specified width. When measurements involve
wires other than that covered in 7.3 shall meet an average weld a convoluted wire, the measurement shall be made to the
shear strength requirement of not less than 3.6 kN (800 lbf) approximate center of the sinusoidal wave shape.
provided that the smaller wire is not smaller than D4. 9.2 Length—The overall length of flat sheets, measured on
7.3.2 Weld-shear tests for determination of conformance to any wire, may vary 625 mm (61 in.), or 1 %, whichever is
the requirements of 7.3 shall be conducted using a fixture as greater.
described in Section 8. 9.3 Overhang of the transverse wires shall not project
7.3.3 Four welds selected at random from the specimen beyond the centerline of each longitudinal edge wire more than
described in 11.2 shall be tested for weld shear strength. The a distance of 25 mm (1 in.), unless otherwise specified. When
transverse wire of each test specimen shall extend approxi- transverse wires are specified to project a specific length
mately 25 mm (1 in.) on each side of the longitudinal wire. The beyond the center line of a longitudinal edge wire, the
longitudinal wire of each test specimen shall be of such length permissible variation shall not exceed 13 mm (0.5 in.) greater
below the transverse wire so as to be adequately engaged by or less than the specified length.
the grips of the testing machine. It shall be of such length
above the transverse wire that its end shall be above the center
line of the upper bearing of the testing device. 5
A detailed drawing showing complete dimensions of the testing jig may be
7.3.4 The material shall be deemed to conform to the obtained from ASTM Headquarters. Request ADJA0185.

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 A 497

FIG. 1 Welded Wire Fabric Weld Tester

9.4 The permissible variation in weight of any wire in the 10. Workmanship
finished fabric shall conform to the tolerances prescribed for 10.1 Wire of proper grade and quality, when fabricated in
the wire before fabrication, in Specification A 496, with the the manner herein required, shall result in a strong, serviceable
following exceptions: mesh-type product having substantially square or rectangular
9.4.1 Unless otherwise precluded by the purchaser, the openings. It shall be fabricated and finished in a workmanlike
manufacturer will be permitted to apply over-sized wire (not manner, as determined by visual inspection, and shall conform
under-sized). The size differential shall not exceed one “D” to this specification.
size increment on sizes D8 and smaller, and two “D” size
increments on sizes larger than D8. In all cases where such 11. Sampling
over-steeling is practiced, the producer shall identify the fabric 11.1 Test specimens for testing mechanical properties shall
with the style originally ordered. be obtained by cutting from the finished fabric a full width
9.5 The average spacing of wires shall be such that the total section, of sufficient length to perform testing described in 7.1
number of wires contained in a sheet or roll is equal to or and 7.2.
greater than that determined by the specific spacing, but the 11.2 Test specimens for determining weld-shear properties
center-to-center distance between individual members may shall be obtained by cutting from the finished fabric, a full
vary not more than 6.35 mm (0.25 in.) from the specified width section of sufficient length to perform testing described
spacing. It is understood that sheets of fabric of the specified in 7.3.3.
length may not always contain an identical number of trans- 11.3 Measurements for conformance to dimensional char-
verse wires and, therefore, may have various lengths of acteristics shall be made on full sheets or rolls.
longitudinal overhang. 11.4 If any test specimen exhibits obvious imperfections, it

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 A 497
may be discarded and another specimen substituted. specification in respect to bend test requirements, provided
both additional specimens satisfactorily pass the prescribed
12. Number of Tests bend test.
12.1 One test for conformance to tensile strength and bend 14.3 Any material that shows injurious imperfections sub-
requirements shall be made for each 6 968 m2(75 000 ft2) of sequent to its acceptance at the manufacturer’s works may be
fabric or remaining fraction thereof. For testing prior to rejected and the manufacturer shall be promptly notified.
fabrication, one test for each 18 Mg (20 tons) of wire shall be 14.4 Welded joints shall withstand normal shipping and
made. handling without becoming broken, but the presence of broken
12.2 One test for conformance to weld shear strength welds, regardless of cause, shall not constitute cause for
requirement shall be made for each 27 870 m2(300 000 ft2) or rejection unless the number of broken welds per sheet exceeds
remaining fraction thereof. 1 % of the total number of joints in a sheet, or if the material
is furnished in rolls, 1 % of the total number of joints in 14 m2
13. Inspection (150 ft2) of fabric and, furthermore, provided not more than
13.1 The inspector representing the purchaser shall have one half the permissible maximum number of broken welds are
free entry at all times, while work on the contract of the located on any one wire.
purchaser is being performed, to all parts of the manufacturer’s 14.5 In the event of rejection because of failure to meet the
works that concern the manufacture of the material ordered. weld shear requirements, four additional specimens shall be
The manufacturer shall afford the inspector all reasonable taken from four different sheets or rolls and tested in accor-
facilities to assure that the material is being furnished in dance with Section 8. If the average of all the weld shear tests
accordance with this specification. performed does not meet the requirement, the material shall be
13.2 Except for yield strength, all tests and inspections shall rejected.
be made at the place of manufacture prior to shipment, unless 14.6 In the event of rejection because of failure to meet the
otherwise specified. Such tests shall be so conducted as not to requirements for dimensions, the amount of material rejected
interfere unnecessarily with the operation of the works. shall be limited to those individual sheets or rolls which fail to
13.3 If the purchaser considers it desirable to determine meet this specification.
compliance with the yield strength requirements of Specifica- 14.7 Rust, surface seams, or surface irregularities shall not
tion A 496, yield strength tests may be made in a recognized be cause for rejection provided the minimum fabric dimen-
laboratory, or their representative may make the test at the mill, sions, cross-sectional area, tensile properties, and weld shear
if such tests do not interfere unnecessarily with the mill strength of a hand wire-brushed test specimen are not less than
operations. the requirements of this specification. The height of deforma-
13.4 For U.S. Government Procurement Only—Except as tions above the minimum height requirements (see Specifica-
otherwise specified in the contract, the contractor is responsible tion A 496) shall not be cause for rejection.
for the performance of all inspection and test requirements 14.8 Rehearing—Rejected materials shall be preserved for a
specified herein. Except as otherwise specified in the contract, period of at least two weeks from the date of inspection, during
the contractor may use his own or any other suitable facilities which time the manufacturer may make claim for a rehearing
for the performance of the inspection and test requirements and retesting.
specified herein, unless disapproved by the purchaser at the
time of purchase. The purchaser shall have the right to perform 15. Certification
any of the inspections and tests at the same frequency as set 15.1 If outside inspection is waived, a manufacturer’s cer-
forth in this specification where such inspections are deemed tification that the material has been manufactured in accor-
necessary to assure that material conforms to prescribed dance with and meets the requirements of this specification
requirements. shall be the basis of acceptance of the material. The certifica-
tion shall include the specification number, year-date of issue,
14. Rejection and Retests and revision letter, if any.
14.1 Material that does not meet the requirements of this 15.2 This conformance is predicated upon testing and ac-
specification may be rejected. Unless otherwise specified, any ceptance of wire prior to fabrication, coupled with random
rejection shall be reported to the manufacturer within five days shear testing during production. Because of warehousing and
from the time of selection of test specimens. stocking problems, no efforts are normally taken to supply
14.2 In case a specimen fails to meet the tension or bend actual test data on material shipped. If this is deemed essential,
test, the material shall not be rejected until two additional outside inspection should be utilized.
specimens taken from other wires in the same sheet or roll have 15.3 When Supplement S1 of Specifications A 82 or A 496
been tested. The material shall be considered as meeting the is specified for the material, test results for yield strength,
specification in respect to any prescribed tensile property, tensile strength, and bend tests shall be reported (S1.3.1 of
provided the tested average for the three specimens, including Specification A 82, S1.3.1 of Specification A 496).
the specimen originally tested, is equal to or exceeds the
required minimum for the particular property in question and 16. Packaging and Marking
provided further that none of the three specimens develops less 16.1 Unless otherwise specified, packaging, marking, and
than 80 % of the required minimum for the tensile property in loading for shipment shall be in accordance with Practices
question. The material shall be considered as meeting this A 700.

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 A 497
16.2 When fabric is furnished in flat sheets, it shall be ing shall be in accordance with the Level A requirement of
assembled in bundles of convenient size containing not more MIL-STD-163.
than 150 sheets and securely fastened together. 16.6 When specified in the contract or order, and for the
16.3 When fabric is furnished in rolls, each roll shall be direct procurement by or direct shipment to the U.S. govern-
secured so as to prevent unwinding during shipping and ment, marking for shipment, in addition to requirements
handling. specified in the contract or order, shall be in accordance with
16.4 Each bundle of flat sheets and each roll shall have MIL-STD-129 for U. S. military agencies and in accordance
attached thereto a suitable tag bearing the name of the with Fed. Std. No. 123 for U. S. government civil agencies.
manufacturer, description of the material, ASTM A 497, and
such other information as may be specified by the purchaser.
17. Keywords
16.5 When specified in the contract or order, and for direct
procurement by or direct shipment to the U.S. government, 17.1 concrete reinforcement; deformed steel wire; reinforc-
when Level A is specified, preservation, packaging, and pack- ing steels; reinforced concrete

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