difference between tie and stirrup

huangyhg

difference between tie and stirrup
folks,
there was recently an argument in our office between the senior guy and an associate regarding the use of the word tie in a beam vs. the use of stirrup.
the code appears to suggest that tie is to be used for compression members and stirrup to be used for flexural members (i assume beams). i tend to agree with the code.
what do you guys think? can these terms be interchanged for use?
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i agree with slickdeals: the code assignment is normally used, with the proviso that vertical beams and horizontal compression   
are you suggesting that ties are always in the xy plane and stirrups in the yz or xz plane?
horizontal hoops can be either ties or stirrups as can vertical hoops. ties must be closed and stirrups can be u shaped or other configuration.  
the purpose of ties and stirrups is different.  ties in a column prevent the main bars from buckling outward, spalling the concrete and causing early collapse.  without ties, properly spaced, the main steel could not be relied upon to carry its yield stress.
stirrups intersect potential diagonal tension cracks in a beam.  the vertical legs resist tension (assuming the beam is horizontal).  the horizontal legs are mainly for anchorage of the vertical legs around the main steel.  stirrups may be open at one end, usually the top.  
ties in a torsional member resist torsional shear.  if the   
ba has summed it up well.  ties are for bracing bars in compression, stirrups are for shear reinforcement.  sometimes there is a dual function, in which case the nomenclature is usually selected based on the orientation.