XIII- 2013

13th INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE VSU'2013

EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION ON BOND STRENGTH OF REBAR

IN SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE
Marian Sabu1, Traian One2, Ana Ioana Petean3
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Romania

Abstract:
Experimental results of the local bond stress-slip relationship of deformed
reinforcing bars embedded in confined self-compacting concrete are presented. A
total of 58 pull-out specimens were tested. Each one of these specimens simulated
the confined region of a beam-column joint. The main analyzed parameters were the
concrete type, the confining reinforcement, the reinforcement bar diameter, the
embedded length of bars. The results showed that in order to ensure that the bond
failure is caused by pull-out, a restraining reinforcement must be provided. The paper
also presents a comparison between self-compacting concrete (SCC) and normally
vibrated concrete (NVC).
Key words: self-compacting concrete, bond, deformed bars, pull-out test, confined
concrete

1. Introduction
Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is able to flow and consolidate under its own
weight, completely fill the formwork even in the presence of dense reinforcement, whilst
maintaining homogeneity and without the need for any additional compaction.
The interior beam-column connections are critical locations in the lower parts of
reinforced concrete framed structures subjected to severe seismic excitations [1]. In interior
joints, the anchored bars are embedded in confined concrete. The confining reinforcement
which is the column longitudinal and transverse reinforcement prevents the propagation
and widening of the splitting cracks. These cracks are caused by the radial bond stresses
and in the condition of interior joints tend to run in a direction normal to the longitudinal
axis of the column.
2. Experimental program
2.1. Materials
The cement used was CEM II/A-S 42.5R. Natural aggregates were used to produce
the concrete, including one type of sand 04 mm and two types of coarse aggregates (48
mm and 816 mm) with grading curves as presented in (Fig. 1).

Marian Sabu, Ph.D. Student, Baritiu 25, Cluj-Napoca, sabaumarian85@yahoo.com

Traian One, Ph.D., Baritiu 25, Cluj-Napoca
3
Ana Ioana Petean, Ph.D. Student, Baritiu 25, Cluj-Napoca
2

XIII- 2013
13th INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE VSU'2013

Fig. 1. Grading curves

A limestone filler addition with a determined mass density of 2700 kg/m3 and a
superplasticizer (SP), based on modified polycarboxylic ether (PCE) polymers were used.
The mix proportions are summarized in (Tabl. 1).
Table 1. Mix proportions
Materials
SCC
Cement CEM II/A-S 42.5R
410 kg
Limestone filler
190 kg
Sand 0-4 mm
907 kg
Gravel 4-8 mm
280 kg
Gravel 8-16 mm
462 kg
SP Glenium 51
6 kg
Water
175 kg
Water/Cement
0.42
Water/Powder
0.29

NVC
450 kg
870 kg
365 kg
681 kg
3,15 kg
169 kg
0.38
-

The properties of the fresh concrete, presented in (Tabl. 2), were determined
immediately after the mixing procedure. After 3 days, the specimens were demolded and
stored at a constant temperature of 202 C and a relative humidity of 955% until the
time of testing. The compressive and flexural tensile strengths were determined at 28 days
on cubes with sides of 150 mm for compression (fc,cube) and prisms with a length of 550
mm and a height of 100 mm for tensile strength (fct,fl). The mean results of the hardened
properties tests are presented in (Tabl. 2).
Table 2. Fresh and hardened properties
SCC
NVC
Slump flow
745 mm
Slump
>220 mm
V funnel
6 sec
fc,cube
50.7 MPa 50.2 MPa
fct,fl
7.0 MPa
5.42 MPa
Deformed bars were used for the test bars as well as for the bars of reinforcing
cages. The test bars used were 10 and 12 mm with the geometrical and mechanical
properties presented in (Tabl. 3).

XIII- 2013
13th INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE VSU'2013

[mm]
10
12

Table 3. Characteristics of reinforcement

fy [MPa] ft [MPa] amax [mm] c [mm]
600
705
0.75
6.5
560
656
1
7.5

fR [-]
0.042
0.048

For each reinforcement type the geometrical characteristics were determined: the
area of the projection of a single rib on the cross-section of a bar (FR), the nominal
diameter (db), the distance between ribs (c) and the rib height (amax), in order to obtain the
relative rib area (fR), by using the eq. (1) according to ISO 15630-1/2002 [2].
(1)

fR =

FR
,
db c

2.2. Test set-up and testing procedure

Pull-out tests were performed on deformed bars with only a fraction of their length in
contact with confined concrete (Fig. 2) and were similar to those of Eligehausen et al. [3].
The specimens represented the confined region of a beam-column connection. The
confining reinforcement which is the vertical and transverse bars in the specimens
represented the column reinforcement. The embedded length of the test bars was equal to 3
and 5 times the bars diameter. The casting direction was perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction of the bars.

Fig. 2. Test specimen [3]

The tests were carried out at the age of 28 days. The applied force was measured,
during the test, with a load cell. The slip of the unloaded end of the bar was recorded by
using one linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) with a precision of 0.001 mm
(Fig. 3). According to RILEM [4] the load rate was 50 N/sec for 10 test bars and 72
N/sec for 12 test bars, in order that the rate of increase of the bond stress to be constant.
The test was finished when pull-out failure occurred or splitting of the surrounding
concrete was observed.

XIII- 2013
13th INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE VSU'2013

Fig. 3. Test specimen prepared for pull-out test

3. Test results
According to RILEM [4] the bond stress between reinforcement and concrete can be
quantified by using eq. (2) where F is the applied force (N), db equals the bar diameter
(mm) and ld is the embedded length (mm).
(2)

fR =

FR
,
db c

3.1. Influence of the concrete type

As we can see in (Fig. 4) the self-compacting concrete (SCC) tends to show the same
behaviour regarding the bond as for the normally vibrated concrete (NVC). The ultimate
slip (su) corresponding to the ultimate bond strength is higher for the self-compacting
concrete (SCC). No differences between the modes of failure of SCC and VC were
found. Most of the elements presented a pull-out failure.

Fig. 4. Local bond stress-slip relationships of test bars 12

3.2. Influence of the confining reinforcement
Specimens having no confining reinforcement failed by splitting of the concrete (Fig.
5). Specimens with confined concrete failed by the bars pull-out. Because the splitting
crack developed in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the bars, only vertical bars crossing
this plane were effective in restraining the concrete, while the influence of stirrups was
negligible. The presence of vertical steel bars restrained the widening of splitting cracks
and changed the failure mode to a pull-out one.

XIII- 2013
13th INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE VSU'2013

Fig. 5. Local bond stress-slip relationships of test bars 12

3.3. Influence of the bar diameter
The bar-diameter effects on the local bond stress-slip relationship are shown in (Fig.
6). The ultimate local bond stress is observed to increase with decreasing bar diameter.

Fig. 6. Local bond stress-slip relationships of test bars 10 and 12

3.4. Influence of the embedded length
A decreasing tendency of the ultimate bond strength with increased embedded length
was found (Fig. 7). No influence of embedment length on the bond strength-slip
relationships was observed.

Fig. 7. Local bond stress-slip relationships of test bars 10 and 12

XIII- 2013
13th INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE VSU'2013

Conclusion
The test specimens simulated the anchorage conditions inside the confined core of an
interior beam-column connection. Effects of confining reinforcement (vertical and
transverse bars), concrete type (SCC and NVC), reinforcement bar diameter (10 and
12) and embedded length of bars (3d and 5d) were studied. The results indicated that:
1. The self-compacting concrete (SCC) tends to show the same behaviour regarding
the bond as for the normally vibrated concrete (NVC).
2. Confinement of concrete by transverse reinforcement does not directly influence
the local bond behavior of deformed bars in joint conditions where the vertical column bars
are sufficient to restrain the widening of bond splitting cracks.
3. To ensure that the bond failure is caused by pull-out, a restraining reinforcement
must be provided.
4. Bond strength decreases as the bar diameter increases.
Acknowledgement
This paper was supported by the project "Improvement of the doctoral studies quality
in engineering science for development of the knowledge based society-QDOC contract
no. POSDRU/107/1.5/S/78534, project co-funded by the European Social Fund through
the Sectorial Operational Program Human Resources 2007-2013.
REFERENCES
[1] Filippou, F. C., Popov, E. P., Bertero, V. V. Effects of Bond Deterioration on
Hysteretic Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Joints, Report No. UCB/EERC-83/19,
Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, Aug.
1983, 184 pp.
[2] 3. ISO 15630-1. Steel for the reinforcement and prestressing of concrete - test
methods. Part 1 2002.
[3] Eligehausen R., Popov E.P., Bertero V.V. Local Bond Stress-Slip Relationships of
Deformed Bars Under Generalized Excitations. Report No. UCB/EERC-83/23,
Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkely, Oct.
1983, 162 pp.
[4] RILEM. Technical recomandations for the testing and use of construction materials,
1992.