Concrete column reinforcing terminology

[Once20036]

Per ACI, in a concrete column all corner bars shall have lateral support. In addition, every alternate interior longitudinal bar and every bar more than 6" from laterally supported bar shall be laterally supported. (ACI 318-05 7.10.5.3).

For these interior bars (alternate or 6") I've always seen this lateral support provided by a tie with a 180 degree bend at one end and a 90 degree bend at the other.

In my last office - there was an older field inspector who insisted these cross ties were called dogs, but nobody in my current office has ever heard this. Has anybody else every heard this terminology before? Is there a more appropriate term for these cross ties?

 

[JAE]

Kitties?

Seriously - I've never heard the term in many years of specifying them. I call them "cross ties" but I suppose the dudes in the field might call them something else.

 

[UcfSE]

I've always heard cross ties. Field guys can get creative though.

 

[PUEngineer]

Candy canes, is what I've heard.

 

[Hokie93]

If I am understanding your question correctly, I have always called them "cross ties". The cross ties I utilize typically have a 135-degree bend on one end and a 90-degree bend on the other end. ACI 318 calls them cross ties (see Chapter 2 for a definition). I did notice that these bars were identified as "candy canes" in the "Detailing Corner" article in the March 2013 issue of Concrete Internation magazine. I had not previously seen them identified as candy canes. I have never seen them identified as "dogs".

 

[cliff234]

I've heard that term used by iron workers in my neck of the woods (Philadelphia / New Jersey). I enjoy learning the origins of words, but don't have a clue as to the origin of this one!

 

[Once20036]

I think we`re all talking about the same thing, cross-ties, candycanes, dogs, etc.
Thanks Cliff, based on all the previous posts I was worried I'd lost the bet with each of my coworkers. This was in the DC region.

My old coworker that taught me the term had a story that he loved to tell me every 6 months or so. He was on site with a young engineer and convinced the poor guy that the ties were actually called cats. The young engineer filed a field report indicating that all the cats and dogs were in accordance with contract documents, lol.

 

[msquared48]

Are these dogs and cats licensed. The local municipality would like to know and needs the extra funds.

Maybe, instead of the field inspector they should call animal control for the next inspection.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[dhengr]

When did the move Philadelphia to New Jersey?

I decree they be called LJ bars or JL bars, depending upon which way you place them.

 

[hokie66]

They were called "dog ties" in Virginia in the 70's. Not sure of the origin of that term.

 

[msquared48]

http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=dog+ties&qpvt=dog+ties&FORM=HURE#x0y0

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[msquared48]

And possibly a related reference...

http://steel-dog.com/

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering