GEWI is a brand name for solid steel bars with a coarse thread running along their entire length. Thanks to this thread, the bars can be coupled, anchored or cut to length at any point, which makes GEWI steel suitable for ground anchors, micropiles, grout anchors and heavy reinforcement applications.
Application
GEWI bars are widely used in geotechnical and foundation engineering. Because the thread runs the full length, nuts and coupling sleeves can be fitted anywhere. A bar can thus be extended with a coupler or anchored to length with a bearing plate and nut.
Typical applications are tension anchors for basements and sheet piles, micropiles (GEWI piles) that carry the load of a foundation down to the bearing soil layer, and anchorages for retaining walls. In reinforced concrete the steel sometimes serves as heavy additional reinforcement at points with large tensile forces.
Characteristics
GEWI steel is available in various diameters and steel grades. Besides its couplability, the coarse thread also provides a good bond with grout or concrete. In a GEWI pile the bar is placed in a drilled hole and encased in grout, creating a slender but heavily loadable pile. For corrosion protection the bars are often hot-dip galvanised or fitted with a plastic sheath.
Related terms
- ground anchor
- grout anchor
- grouted pile
- reinforcement
- steel
- micropile
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