Design and Detailing of Beam-

Column Joints (per ACI)

HANZLAH AKHLAQ 15-MS-PT-STR-04
ZAHID MEHAMOOD 15-MS-PT-STR-05
 Outline
Need of study
Classification based on loading
Types of analysis
Types of joints
Perimeters involving in design
ACI recommendations
Design procedure for non seismic loading
Design procedure for seismic loading
Need of study
 Classification based on loading

• The ACI Committee 352 on the design of reinforced concrete beam

column joints divides joints into two groups depending on the
deformations the joints are subjected to:
• Type I: Structures that are not apt to be subjected to large inelastic
deformations and do not need to be designed according to ACI Code
Chapter 21 are referred to as non seismic structures. Such structures
have Type-I beam-columns joints
• Type II: Structures that must be able to accommodate large inelastic
deformations and as a result must satisfy ACI Code Chapter 21 are
referred to as seismic structures. Such structures have Type-II beam-
column joints.
 Types of analysis

• A number of models have been developed for force transfer in

beam-column joints. The two most popular models are the
• Truss model: assumes perfect bond of rebar in joint and assumes
all forces are transmitted to the joint by longitudinal reinforcement.
• Diagonal strut model: assumes no bond of rebar in joint; force
is applied as a compression force in the concrete on the opposite
side of the joint.

Truss Model Diagonal strut model

 Types of joints

Three types of joints based on the location:

1) Interior: horizontal members framing into all four sides
2) Exterior: at least two horizontal members framing into opposite
sides of the joint
3) Corner: all others
 Perimeters involved in design

• The shaded areas of Fig. a and c each show the upper half of the
joint regions in beam-column joints in reinforced concrete frames
that are deflecting to the left in response to loads. Figures b and d
are free-body diagrams of the portions of the joints above
the neutral axes of the beams entering the beam-column joints. For
the exterior joint shown in Fig the horizontal shear at the mid height
of the joint is given by:
Vu,joint = Tpr – Vcol
 Perimeters involved in design
• where the joint shear is equal to the probable force in the top steel in
the joint, minus the shear in the columns due to sway of the
columns. An interior joint has beams on both sides that contribute to
the shear in the joint.
Vu, joint = Tpr1 + Cpr2 – Vcol
• where is found from section equilibrium of the beam section at the
left side of the joint, and thus should be equal to the probable force
in the tension reinforcement at the bottom of that beam. The column
shears, can be obtained from a frame analysis
• The force is the tension in the reinforcement in the beam at its
probable capacity. Thus,
• Tpr = αAsfy
• It is taken to be at least 1.0 for Type-1 frames, where only limited
ductility is required, and at least 1.25 for Type-2 frames, which
require considerable ductility.
 Design procedure

• The ACI Committee 352 design procedure for Type-1 (nonseismic)

joints consists of three main stages:
1. Provide confinement to the joint region by means of beams framing
into the sides of the joint or by a combination of the confinement
from the column bars and from the ties in the joint region. The
confinement allows the compression diagonal to form within the
joint and intercepts the inclined cracks. For the joint to be properly
confined, the beam steel must be inside the column steel.
2. Limit the shear in the joint.
3. Limit the bar size in the beams to a size that can be developed in
the joint.
4. For best joint behavior, the longitudinal column reinforcement
should be uniformly distributed around the perimeter of the
column core
 Design procedure

• For Type-1 joints, ACI Committee 352 recommends that at least two
layers of transverse reinforcement (ties) be provided between the top
and the bottom levels of the longitudinal reinforcement in the
deepest beam framing into the joint. The vertical center-to-center
spacing of the transverse reinforcement should not exceed 12 in. in
frames resisting gravity loads and should not exceed 6 in. in frames
resisting nonseismic lateral loads. In nonseismic regions, the
transverse reinforcement can be closed ties, formed either by U-
shaped ties and cap ties or by U-shaped ties that are lap spliced
within the joint.
• The hoop reinforcement can be omitted within the depth of the
shallowest beam entering an interior joint, provided that at least
three-fourths of the column width is covered
by the beams on each side of the column.
 Shear Strength of Type-1 Joints (Nonseismic)

• The shear strength on a horizontal plane at mid height of the joint is:
Vn= γ√fc bjhcol

• hcol is the column dimension parallel to the shear force in the joint,
and is the effective width of the joint as defined in Eq
 Shear Strength of Type-1 Joints (Nonseismic)

• bj=(bb+ccol)/2≤ bb+hcol

• where is the width of the beam running parallel to the applied shear
force and is the dimension of the column perpendicular to the applied
shear force. When beams of different widths frame into the opposite
sides of the column, should be taken as the average width of the two
beams.
 Shear Strength of Type-1 Joints (Nonseismic)

• ϕ Vn ≥Vu where ϕ=0.85

• If this is not satisfied, either the size of the column will need to be
increased or the amount of shear being transferred to the joint will
need to be decreased.
• Beam reinforcement terminating in a Type-1 joint should have
standard 90° hooks with a development length, given by ACI Code
Section 12.5 (Table A-8). The critical section for developing tension
in the beam reinforcement is taken at the face of the joint in
the case of Type-1 joints. If is too large to fit into the joint (column),
it is necessary to either decrease the size of the bar or increase the
size of the column.
 ACI 12.5 Development of standard hooks in
tension
• 12.5.1 — Development length ldh, in
inches, for deformed bars in tension
terminating in a standard hook (see 7.1 )
shall be determined from 12.5.2 and the
applicable modification factors of
12.5.3, but ldh shall not be less than 8db,
nor less than 6 in.
• 12.5.2 — For deformed bars, ldh shall be
ldh=(0.02βλfy/ √fc )db
with β taken as 1.2 for epoxy-coated
reinforcement, and λ taken as 1.3 for
lightweight aggregate concrete. For
other cases, β and λ shall be taken as
1.0.
 Shear Strength of Type-2 Joints (Seismic)

• The shear strength on a horizontal plane at mid height of the joint

is:
Vn= γ√fc Aj

γ is taken from the ACI 21.5.3.1

For joints confined on all four faces ........... 20 √fc Aj
For joints confined on three faces or
on two opposite faces ................................ 15 √fc Aj
For others .................................................. 12 √fc Aj
• Aj is the effective area of the joint, similar to the product of bj and
hcol but it cannot exceed the area of the column. Assuming the
column width exceeds the beam width, the definition of for
seismic design, as discussed in ACI Commentary Section R 21.7.4,
is given as
• bj = bb + 2x ≤ bb + hcol
ACI Fig. R21.5.3-Effective joint area
 Shear Strength of Type-2 Joints (Seismic)

• For a joint to qualify as an interior joint, the beams on the four faces
of the joint must cover at least three-quarters of the width and depth
of the joint face, where the depth of the joint is taken as the depth of
the deepest beam framing into the joint. Joints that have an interior
configuration (beams framing into all four faces), but the beams do
not satisfy these size requirements, should be evaluated using the
value for exterior joints.
• For joints with an exterior configuration (beams framing into three
faces or two opposite faces), the width of the beams on the two
opposite joint faces must be at least three quarters of the width of
the joint face and the depth of the shallower of these two beams
must be at least three-quarters of the depth of the deeper beam.
Joints that have an exterior configuration, but the beams do not
satisfy these size requirements, should be evaluated using the value
for corner joints.
 Shear Strength of Type-2 Joints (Seismic)

• Tpr = αAsfy
• α is taken to be at least 1.25 for Type-2 frames, which require
considerable ductility.
• ϕ Vn ≥Vu where ϕ=0.85
• . If this shear strength requirement is not satisfied, either the size of
the column will need to be increased or the amount of shear being
transferred to the joint will need to be decreased.
• Rules for developing beam reinforcement terminating in a Type-2
joint are given in ACI Code Section 21.7.5.
 ACI 21.5.4 -Development length of bars in
tension
• 21.5.4.1 — The development length ldh for a bar with a standard 90
deg hook in normal weight aggregate concrete shall not be less than
the largest of 8db, 6 in., and the length required by Eq. (21-6).
l dh = fy db / (65√ fc )
for bar sizes No. 3 through No. 11.
For lightweight aggregate concrete, the development length for a bar
with a standard 90 deg hook shall not be less than the largest of
10db, 7-1/2 in., and 1.25 times that required by Eq. (21-6).
The 90 deg hook shall be located within the confined core of a
column or of a boundary element.
21.5.4.2 — For bar sizes No. 3 through No. 11, the development
length ld for a straight bar shall not be less than (a) and (b):
 ACI 21.5.4 -Development length of bars in
tension
• (a) 2.5 times the length required by 21.5.4.1 if the depth of the
concrete cast in one lift beneath the bar does not exceed 12 in.; and
(b) 3.5 times the length required by 21.5.4.1 if the depth of the
concrete cast in one lift beneath the bar exceeds 12 in.
 General requirements
• ACI Code Section 21.7.2.3 limits the diameter of the longitudinal
beam reinforcement that passes through a joint to of the width of the
joint parallel to the beam bars. When hinges form in the beams, the
beam reinforcement is stressed to the actual yield strength of the bar
on one side of the joint and is stressed in compression on the other
side. This results in very large bond stresses in the joint, possibly
leading to slipping of the bar in the joint. The minimum bonded
length of such a bar in a joint is thus which is considerably less than
is required by the development-length equations in ACI Code
Chapter 12. The minimum bonded length was selected from test
results of joints tested under cyclic loads to limit, but not entirely
eliminate slip of the beam bar in the joint. Based on research
by Leon [19-17] and others, better stiffness retention and energy
dissipation is obtained for interior beam–column connections when
the column dimension is increased to at least 24 times the diameter
of beam bars passing through the joint.
 General requirements

• ACI Committee 352 [19-16] uses the same limit for the diameter of
column bars passing through a beam–column joint (i.e., the column–
bar diameter should not exceed 1/20 of the overall depth of the
shallowest beam framing into the joint). Although this design
recommendation has not been adopted by the ACI Code Committee,
based on research results [19-18], the author recommends that
designers should attempt to satisfy this limit when selecting the size
of column bars
• ACI Code Section 21.7.3.1 requires hoop reinforcement around the
column reinforcement in all joints in special moment-resisting
frames. In joints confined on all four sides by beams satisfying ACI
Code Section 21.7.3.2, the amount of hoop reinforcement is
reduced, and its spacing is less restrictive within the depth of the
shallowest beam entering the joint.
 ACI 21.5-Joints of special moment frames
• 21.5.1 — General requirements
21.5.1.1 — Forces in longitudinal beam reinforcement at the joint
face shall be determined by assuming that the stress in the flexural
tensile reinforcement is 1.25fy.
• 21.5.1.2 — Strength of joint shall be governed by the appropriate
strength reduction factors in 9.3.
21.5.1.3 — Beam longitudinal reinforcement terminated in a column
shall be extended to the far face of the confined column core and
anchored in tension
according to 21.5.4 and in compression according to Chapter 12.
21.5.1.4 — Where longitudinal beam reinforcement extends through
a beam-column joint, the column dimension parallel to the beam
reinforcement shall not be less than 20 times the diameter of the
largest longitudinal bar for normal weight concrete. For lightweight
concrete, the dimension shall be not less than 26 times the bar
diameter
 Example 1

• Fy=60000psi
• Fc=5000psi
• Story height=12.5’
 Example 1

1. Check the Distribution of the Column Bars and Lay Out the
Joint Ties
No spacing requirement of columns for type 1
For type 1 the frame is braced, the frame is not the primary lateral
load-resisting mechanism. Hence, the spacing of the joint ties can be
with at least two sets of ties between the top and bottom steel in the
deepest beam. The required area of these ties will be computed in
step 3.
2. Calculate the Shear Force on the Joint.
Vu, joint = Tpr1 + Cpr2 – Vcol
Tpr = αAsfy α=1
 Example 1

• Tpr = 4 x 1 x1.56 x 60 = 374 kips

• Mn= Asfy (d-a/2)
• d=28-2.5=25.5in
• a= Asfy/0.85bfc
• =(4 x 1.56 x60)/(0.85 x 5 x 20)=4.40
• Mn =4 x 1.56 x 60 (25.5- 4.40/2)= 8720 kip-in
• =726.89 k-ft
• Distribution factor = 0.5
• M col= 0.5 x 726.89 = 363.5 k-ft
• Vcol= (363.5+363.5)/12.5=58.2
• Vu jiont=374-58.3=316kips
 Example 1

• Check the shear strength of joint

• bj=(bb+ccol)/2≤ bb+hcol
• ≤(20+24)/2=22in
• ≤(20+22)=42in
• Take smaller of above=22in
• hcol=22in
• V n= γ√fc bjhcol γ=20 for side joint
V n=20* √5000*22*22=684000lb=684kips
ϕ Vn=0.85*684=582kips
ϕ Vn ≥V u so min shear ties are provided
Area per set= 0.11*3=0.33 in2
 Example 1

• Aci 11.6.4.3 and aci eq 11-13

• Avmin=0.75*fc(bws/fy)
• S=0.33*60000/(53*22)=17 in
• But max spacing is 12 in so #3@12c/c
Check for Bar anchorages
ldh=(0.02βλfy/ √fc )db
= (0.02*60000/ √5000)1.41=23.9in
Aplying aci factor
23.9*0.7=16.7in
Length available= 22-2=20 in so ok
• Column size =24x24
• Beam size=24x24 from all four sides (interior joint)
• Vn= γ√fc Aj. Bj
• Define the size of the joint
• Aj =24x24 =576in2
• ACI Code Section 21.7.2.3 requires the length of the joint measured
parallel to the flexural steel causing the joint shear to be at least 20
times the diameter of those bars, (20*1 in.)—o.k
• From ACI Committee 352 [19-16], the column–bar diameter should
be less than 1/20 of the total depth of the shallowest beam framing
into the joint, so 1/20*24=1.2 in Thus, the selected No. 8 bars are
o.k.
• Determine the transverse reinforcement for confinement.
ACI Code Section 21.7.3.1 requires confinement steel within the
joint. Because the joint has beams on all four sides, ACI Code
Section 21.7.3.2 sets the amount of confinement steel as half of the
confinement steel required in the ends of the columns,

bc = 24 in-2*11.52=21.0 in
Ach=212 = 441 in2
• ACI Code Section 21.6.4.3 sets the maximum spacing as the smaller
of
(a) 0.25 times the minimum cross-sectional dimension,
0.25*24in.=6 in
(b) Six times the longitudinal bar diameter, 6*1 in. = 6 in
• Ash/s=0.5* 0.129 = 0.065 in2 /in
• The vertical spacing of the hoops from ACI Code Section
21.7.3.2 is permitted to be 6 in.
Compute the shear in the joint and check the shear strength.
Figure 19-29
is a series of free-body diagrams of the joint for the frame swaying to the right
Strong Column Phenomena
Typical Beam Column joint
Joints Ties
Joint Deformation
Placement of Ties in joints
Anchorage in Column
Typical Joint Section
Variable Beam Width Curtailment Details
Variable Beam Width Curtailment Details
Column splice details. (ACI 315-99)
Column splice details. (ACI 315-99)
Offset Column Detail