7.

12 Shrinkage and temperature reinforcement

7.12.1 Reinforcement for shrinkage and temperature stresses normal to flexural reinforcement shall be provided in structural slabs where the flexural reinforcement extends in one direction only.

R7.12 Shrinkage and temperature reinforcement

R7.12.1 Shrinkage and temperature reinforcement is required at right angles to the principal reinforcement to minimize cracking and to tie the structure together to ensure it is acting as assumed in the design. The provisions of this section are intended for structural slabs only; they are not intended for slabs-on-ground. 7.12.1.1 Shrinkage and temperature reinforcement shall be provided in accordance with either 7.12.2 or 7.12.3. 7.12.1.2 Where shrinkage and temperature movements are significantly restrained, the requirements of 8.2.4 and 9.2.3 shall be considered. R7.12.1.2 The area of shrinkage and temperature reinforcement required by 7.12.2.1 has been satisfactory where shrinkage and temperature movements are permitted to occur. Where structural walls or columns provide significant restraint to shrinkage and temperature movements, the restrain of volume changes causes tension in slabs, as well as displacements, shear forces, and flexural moments in columns or walls. In these cases, it may be necessary to increase the amount of slab reinforcement required by 7.12.2.1 due to the shrinkage and thermal effects in both principal directions (see References 7.7 and 7.16). Topping slabs also experience tension due to restraint of differential shrinkage between the topping and the precast elements or metal deck (which has zero shrinkage) that should be considered in reinforcing the slab. Consideration should be given to strain demands on reinforcement crossing joints of precast elements where most of the restraint is likely to be relieved. Top and bottom reinforcement are both effective in controlling cracks. Control strips during the construction period, which permit initial shrinkage to occur without causing an increase in stresses, are also effective in reducing cracks caused by restraint. R7.12.2 The amounts specified for deformed bars and welded wire reinforcement are empirical but have been used satisfactorily for many years. The area of reinforcement given by 7.12.2.1 may be distributed near the top or bottom of the slab, or may be allocated between the two faces of the slab as deemed appropriate for specific conditions. Splices and end anchorages of shrinkage and temperature reinforceme nt are to be designed for the full specified yield strength in accordance with 12.1, 12.15, 12.18, and 12.19. 7.12.2 Deformed reinforcement conforming to 3.5.3 used for shrinkage and temperature reinforcement shall be provided in accordance with the following: 7.12.2.1 Area of shrinkage and temperature reinforcement shall provide at least the following ratios of reinforcement area to gross concrete area, but not less than 0.0014: (a) Slabs where Grade 40 or 50 deformed bars are used .................................0.0020 (b) Slabs where Grade 60 deformed bars or welded wire reinforcement are used...................................0.0018 (c) Slabs where reinforcement with yield stress exceeding 60,000 psi measured at a yield strain of 0.35 percent is used ...................... 7.12.2.2 Shrinkage and temperature reinforcement shall be spaced not farther apart than five times the slab thickness, nor farther apart than 18 in. 7.12.2.3 At all sections where required, reinforcement

to resist shrinkage and temperature stresses shall develop fy in tension in accordance with Chapter 12.

10.5.4 For structural slabs and footings of uniform thickness, y As,min in the direction of the span shall be the same as that required by 7.12.2.1. y Maximum spacing of this reinforcement shall not exceed three times the thickness nor 18 in.

R10.5.4 The minimum reinforcement required for slabs should be equal to the same amount as that required by 7.12.2.1 for shrinkage and temperature reinforcement. y Slabs-on-ground are not considered to be structural slabs in the context of this section, unless they transmit vertical loads or lateral forces from other parts of the structure to the soil. Reinforcement, if any, in slabs-on-ground should be proportioned with due consideration of all design forces. Mat foundations and other slabs that help support the structure vertically should meet the requirements of this section. In revaluating the overall treatment of 10.5, the maximum spacing for reinforcement in structural slabs including footings) was reduced from the 5h for temperature and shrinkage reinforcement to the compromise value of 3h, which is somewhat larger than the 2h limit of 13.3.2 for two-way slab systems.

10.6 Distribution of flexural reinforcement in beams and one -way slabs

10.6.1 This section prescribes rules for distribution of flexural reinforcement to control flexural cracking in beams and in one-way slabs (slabs reinforced to resist flexural stresses in only one direction).

R10.6 Distribution of flexural reinforcement in beams and one-way slabs

R10.6.1 Many structures designed by working stress methods and with low steel stress served their intended functions with very limited flexural cracking. When highstrength reinforcing steels are used at high service load stresses, however, visible cracks should be expected, and steps should be taken in detailing of the reinforcement to control cracking. For reasons of durability and appearance, many fine cracks are preferable to a few wide cracks. Control of cracking is particularly important when reinforcement with a yield strength in excess of 40,000 psi is used. Current good detailing practices will usually lead to adequate crack control even when reinforcement of 60,000 psi yield strength is used. Extensive laboratory work10.12-10.14 involving deformed bars has confirmed that crack width at service loads is proportional to steel stress. The significant variables reflecting steel detailing were found to be thickness of concrete cover and the spacing of reinforcement. Crack width is inherently subject to wide scatter even in careful laboratory work and is influenced by shrinkage and other time-dependent effects. Improved crack control is obtained when the steel reinforcement is well distributed over the zone of maximum concrete tension.

10.6.2 Distribution of flexural reinforcement in twoway slabs shall be as required by 13.3.

10.6.3 Flexural tension reinforcement shall be well distributed within maximum flexural tension zones of a member cross section as required by 10.6.4. R10.6.3 Several bars at moderate spacing are much more effective in controlling cracking than one or two larger bars of equivalent area.

10.6.4 The spacing of reinforcement closest to the tension face, s, shall not exceed that given by

(10-4) but not greater than 12(40,000/fs), where cc is the least distance from surface of reinforcement or prestressing steel to the tension face. If there is only one bar or wire nearest to the extreme tension face, s used in Eq. (10-4) is the width of the extreme tension face. Calculated stress fs in reinforcement closest to the tension face at service load shall be computed based on the unfactored moment. It shall be permitted to take fs as 2/3fy.

R10.6.4 This section was updated in the 2005 edition to reflect the higher service stresses that occur in flexural reinforcement with the use of the load combinations introduced in the 2002 Code. The maximum bar spacing is specified directly to control cracking.10.15-10.17 For the usual case of beams with Grade 60 reinforcement and 2 in. clear cover to the main reinforcement, with fs = 40,000 psi, the maximum bar spacing is 10 in. Crack widths in structures are highly variable. In Codes before the 1999 edition, provisions were given for distribution of reinforcement that were based on empirical equations using a calculated maximum crack width of 0.016 in. The current provisions for spacing are intended to limit surface cracks to a width that is generally acceptable in practice but may vary widely in a given structure. The role of cracks in the corrosion of reinforcement is controversial. Research10.18,10.19 shows that corrosion is not clearly correlated with surface crack widths in the range normally found with reinforcement stresses at service load levels. For this reason, the former distinction between interior and exterior exposure has been eliminated.

R13.3 Slab reinforcement

13.3.2 Spacing of reinforcement at critical sections shall not exceed two times the slab thickness, except for portions of slab area of cellular or ribbed construction. In the slab over cellular spaces, reinforcement shall be provided as required by 7.12.

R13.3.2 The requirement that the center-to-center spacing of the reinforcement be not more than two times the slab thickness applies only to the reinforcement in solid slabs, and not to reinforcement joists or waffle slabs. This limitation is to ensure slab action, cracking, and provide for the possibility of loads concentrated on small areas of the slab. See also R10.6.