Consider a bar embedded in a mass of concrete

Development Length
P = *[Lb**db] db Lb

P = * [*db2/4]

CE A433 RC Design T. Bart Quimby, P.E., Ph.D.

Revised Spring 2009

= P / [Lb**db] < max P < max * [Lb**db]

= P/ [*db2/4] < max P < max * [*db2/4]

To force the bar to be the weak link: max * [Lb**db] > max * [*db2/4] Lb > (max / max)* [db/4]

Development Length

Steel Limit, max

Ld = development length

the shortest distance over which a bar can achieve its full capacity The length that it takes a bar to develop its full contribution to the moment capacity, Mn
Ld Mn 0 Cc Mn = (C or T)*(dist) Ts

Using the bilinear assumption of ACI 318:

max = + fy
Lb > (fy / max)* [db/4] Lb > fy * db / (4*max)

Concrete Bond Limit, max

Concrete Strength, fc

There are lots of things that affect max

The strength of the concrete, fc Type of concrete (normal weight or light weight) The amount of concrete below the bar The surface condition of the rebar The concrete cover on the bar The proximity of other bars transferring stress to the concrete The presence of transverse steel

Bond strength, max, tends to increase with concrete strength. Experiments have shown this relationship to be proportional to the square root of fc.

Type of Concrete

Amount of Concrete Below Bars

Light weight concrete tends to have less bond strength than does normal weight concrete. ACI 318 318-08 introduces a lightweight concrete reduction factor, , on sqrt( sqrt(fc) in some equations.

See ACI 318318-08, 8.6.1 for details

The code refers to top bars as being any bar which has 12 inches or more of fresh concrete b l below the th bar b when h the th member is poured. If concrete > 12 then consolidation settlement results in lower bond strength on the bottom side of the bar See ACI 318318-08, 12.2.4(a)

Surface Condition of Rebar

Proximity to Surface or Other Bars

All rebar must meet ASTM requirements for deformations that increase pullout strength. Bars are often surface coated is inhibit corrosion.

The size of the concrete cylinder tributary to each bar is used to account for proximity of surfaces or other bars. 2D 3D

Epoxy Coating The major concern! Galvanizing

Epoxy coating significantly reduces bond strength See ACI 318318-08, 12.2.4(b)

Presence of Transverse Steel

The ACI 318318-08 Development Length Equation (ACI 318318-08 12.2)

3 fy min( t e ,1.7) s Ld = d b cb + K tr 40 f c min ,2.5 d b

The bond transfer tends to cause a splitting plane Transverse steel will increase the strength of the splitting plane. See text for other possible splitting locations

K tr =

40 Atr sn

The Modifiers

More Modifiers

t, Modifier for reinforcement location

1.3 for top bars, 1.0 for other bars

s, Modifier for bar size

e, modifier for epoxy coated bars

0.8 for #6 and smaller 1.0 for #7 and larger

1.5 when cover < 3db or clear spacing < 6db 1.2 for other epoxy coated reinforcing 1.0 for nonnon-epoxy coated reinforcing

, Modifier for lightweight concrete

The product, te, need not exceed 1.7

ACI 318318-08, 8.6.1 = 1.0 for normal weight concrete as low as 0.75 for the lightest weight concrete

The Transverse Reinforcement 318-08 Eq. 12 12-2) Index, Ktr (ACI 318

Atr = total cross sectional area of all transverse reinforcement which is within the spacing, s, and which crosses the potential plane of splitting through the reinforcement being developed. s = maximum C C-C spacing of transverse reinforcement within the development length n = number of longitudinal bars being developed along the plane of splitting.

K tr =

40 Atr sn

The outer bars are #10, the center one is #6, the others are #8

Other Development Lengths

Effect on Moment Capacity

Development in Compression: ACI 318 318-08 12.3 Development p of standard hooks in tension: ACI 318 318-08 12.5

There are some very specific cover and/or confinement requirements

Moment Capacity, Mn, is a function of x If different bars develop differently then you need to look at the contribution contribution that each bar makes to the moment capacity

Mechanical connectors (such as bearing plates at the beam ends) may also be used.

Moment Capacity Diagram

Moment Capacity
600 500 phiPm (ft-k) 400 300 200 100 0 0 50 100 150 200 X (in) 250 300 350 400

Cutting Bars

The Mn diagram can be made to more closely fit the Mu diagram by terminating or cutting bars when they are no longer needed. (ACI 318 318-08 12.10.3)
Moment Capacity
600 500 phiPm (ft-k) 400 300 200 100 0 0 50 100 150 200 X (in) 250 300 350 400

Beam Profile Showing Bar Cutoff Locations

> max(d, 12db) > max(d, 12db) End of #6 bar

End of #8 bars End of #10 bars