Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019

Engineering Department

Concrete Design
Chapter Five
Bond, Development length, and Splices

Tishk International University

Civil Engineering Department Bedar R.Hassan

• 1. Introduction:
• Bond: the steel and the concrete should stick together, or bond, so that they will
act as a unit.
• Development length: The bars must be extended some distance back into the
support and out into the beam to anchor them or develop their strength. This
distance is called the development length. If the bars were stopped at the face of
the support, the beam would fail.
• Bar splices (Overlap): Field splices of reinforcing bars are often necessary
because of the limited bar lengths available. Steel fabricators normally stock
reinforcing bars in (6m-12m) lengths.

Lecturer: Bedar Rauf Hassan 1

Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• 2. Bond strength and Development Length:

• Bond: is the interface between concrete and steel as shown.
• Some years ago, when plain bars without surface
deformations were used, initial bond strength was provided
only by the relatively weak chemical adhesion and
mechanical friction between steel and concrete (Hooks) as
shown.
• Plain bars leads to larger deflections and greater crack
widths.
• To improve this situation, deformed bars are now
universally used with special hooks.

• There are two types of bond failure:

• 1. Direct pullout
• 2. Splitting
• Bond failure resulting from splitting of the concrete is more common in beams
than direct pullout.
• When pullout resistance is overcome or when splitting has spread all the way to
the end of an unanchored bar, complete bond failure occurs. Sliding of the steel
relative to the concrete leads to immediate collapse of the beam.

Lecturer: Bedar Rauf Hassan 2

Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• 2. Bond strength and Development Length:

• Development length: it is defined as that length of embedment necessary to
develop the full tensile strength of the bar. controlled by pullout or splitting.
• In the event that the desired tensile stress in a bar cannot be developed by bond
along the length of the bar alone, it is necessary to provide special anchorage at
the ends of the bar, usually by means of a 90 ° or a 180 ° hook or a headed bars.

• If the actual length of the bar is equal to or greater than the development length
(ℓd) , no premature bond failure will occur. That is, the beam will fail in bending
or shear rather than by bond failure. For example in continuous beam as shown.
• However, if the actual available length is inadequate for full development, special
anchorage, such as by hooks, must be provided as shown.

Factors Influencing Development Length:

1. Concrete tensile strength (fc’).
2. Cover distance.
3. Spacing of the reinforcing bars: (if the bar spacing is increased, more concrete
per bar will be available to resist horizontal splitting, and the required development
length is reduced).
4. Presence of transverse steel reinforcement: (provided by stirrups of the types,
improves the resistance of tensile bars to both vertical or horizontal splitting).

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Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• A. Tension bars:
• Basic equation (Accurate equation):
• Should be : 𝑓𝑐′ ≤ 8.3 𝑀𝑃𝑎 This limit is imposed because there has not been a
sufficient amount of research on the development of bars in higher-strength
concretes.
𝑓𝑦 𝜓𝑡 𝜓𝑒 𝜓𝑠
• 𝑙𝑑 = 𝑐𝑏 +𝐾𝑡𝑟 𝑑𝑏 ≥ 300𝑚𝑚
1.1𝜆 𝑓𝑐′ 𝑑𝑏

• Reduction of (𝑙𝑑 ) permitted: When the amount of flexural reinforcing provided

exceeds the theoretical amount required:
𝑓𝑦 𝜓𝑡 𝜓𝑒 𝜓𝑠 𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
• 𝑙𝑑 = 𝑐𝑏 +𝐾𝑡𝑟 𝑑𝑏 ( ) ≥ 300𝑚𝑚
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)
1.1𝜆 𝑓𝑐′ 𝑑𝑏

• 𝜓𝑡 : Reinforcement location factor

• 𝜓𝑒 : Epoxy coating factor 𝑐𝑏 + 𝐾𝑡𝑟
• 𝜓𝑠 : Reinforcing size factor ≤ 2.5
𝑑𝑏
• 𝑐𝑏 :Smaller (A or B) in the figure.

• 𝐾𝑡𝑟 :Transverse reinforcement index.

40𝐴𝑡𝑟
• 𝐾𝑡𝑟 =
𝑠𝑛
• Atr: total cross-sectional area of all
transverse reinforcement that is
within the spacing s.
• n: is the number of bars or wires
being developed or lap spliced.
• s : Greatest spacing of transverse
reinforcement within ℓ d center to
center.
• Designer shall be permitted to use
Ktr = 0 if transverse reinforcement is
present or required.

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Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• Simplified equation:
• Case(1): If:𝐶𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 + ∅𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑢𝑝𝑠 ≥ ∅𝑏 in all sides of the section, and
Clear spacing between bars ≥ 2∅𝑏
• Use the following equations:
𝑓𝑦 𝜓𝑡 𝜓𝑒 𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
• For(𝑑𝑏 ≤ 20𝑚𝑚) 𝑙𝑑 = 𝑑𝑏 ( ) ≥ 300𝑚𝑚
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)
2.1𝜆 𝑓𝑐′
𝑓𝑦 𝜓𝑡 𝜓𝑒 𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
• For(𝑑𝑏 > 20𝑚𝑚) 𝑙𝑑 = 𝑑𝑏 ( ) ≥ 300𝑚𝑚
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)
1.7𝜆 𝑓𝑐′

• Case(2): Other cases except of case (1).

• Use the following equations:
𝑓𝑦 𝜓𝑡 𝜓𝑒 𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
• For(𝑑𝑏 ≤ 20𝑚𝑚) 𝑙𝑑 = 𝑑𝑏 ( ) ≥ 300𝑚𝑚
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)
1.4𝜆 𝑓𝑐′
𝑓𝑦 𝜓𝑡 𝜓𝑒 𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
• For(𝑑𝑏 > 20𝑚𝑚) 𝑙𝑑 = 𝑑𝑏 ( ) ≥ 300𝑚𝑚
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)
1.1𝜆 𝑓𝑐′

• Anchorage of Tension bars:

• There are two common types:
• 1. Anchorage by using Headed bars (Not discussed here).
• 2. Anchorage by using Hooks:
• In the event that the desired tensile stress in a bar cannot be
developed by bond along the length of the bar alone, it is
necessary to provide special anchorage at the ends of the bar,
usually by means of a 90 ° or a 180 ° hook as shown.

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Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• Development length and modification

factors for Hooked bars:
• Should be : 𝑓𝑐′ ≤ 8.3 𝑀𝑃𝑎
0.24𝑓𝑦 𝜓𝑒 𝜓𝑐 𝜓𝑟 𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
• 𝑙𝑑ℎ = 𝑑𝑏 ( )≥
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)
𝜆 𝑓𝑐′
𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 8𝑑𝑏 or 150𝑚𝑚

• Note:
• 1. 𝜓𝑟 =0.8 in the past table for the case shown below.
• 2. Standard hooks detail illustrate in the table below:

Minimum diameters of bend for

standard hooks
Minimum
Bar size
Diameter
#10-25mm 6 db
#29-36 8 db
#43 and greater 10 db

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Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• B. Compression bars:
• Bars transfer their share of column loads to a supporting footing or where lap
splices are made in a column (Later discussed).
• Bar in Compression transferred by bond along the embedded length, and a part is
transferred by end bearing of the bars on the concrete.
• Hooks and heads are not effective in transferring compression from bars to
concrete.
• Development length:
• Greater of:
0.24𝜓𝑟 𝑓𝑦 𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
• 𝑙𝑑 = 𝑑𝑏 ( ) ≥ 200𝑚𝑚
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)
𝜆 𝑓𝑐′
𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
• 𝑙𝑑 = 0.043𝜓𝑟 𝑓𝑦 𝑑𝑏 ( ) ≥ 200𝑚𝑚
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)

𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
• Note: A reduction of development length in is not permitted for: ( )
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)
• 1. At non-continuous supports (Simply supported).
• 2. At locations where anchorage or development for (fy) is required.
• 3. Where bars are required to be continuous.
• 4. Mechanically anchored deformed reinforcement. 5. In High seismic-force
zone. 6. Anchorage of Concrete piles to pile caps in structures.
• Development length in Bundle bars:
• Use same previous principles with some notes:
• 1. Bars larger than a No. 36 shall not be bundled in beam.
• 2. Development length for two or three bars increase by (20%).
• 3. Development length for two or three bars increase by (33%).
• 4. 𝐷: Equivalent Unit bar diameter of bundle bar.
• 5. 𝑑𝑏 : in the last term of equation, should be use single diameter and neglect D.

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Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• Example (1): The required reinforcing steel area for the lightweight concrete
overhanging beam of Figure below is 1800 𝑚𝑚2 .The top bars shown are
uncoated. Compute development lengths if fy = 420 MPa and f ‘c = 21 MPa. If
we have not anchorage device in the end.
• 1. Using the full ACI Equation.
• 2. Using the full ACI Equation with Ktr = 0.
• 3. Using simplified equations.

• Example (2): Figure below shows a

beam-column joint in a continuous
building frame. Based on frame
analysis, the negative uncoated steel
required at the end of the beam is 1870
𝑚𝑚2 ; two No. 36 bars are used,
providing As = 2035 𝑚𝑚2 . Normal
weight concrete is to be used, with fc’
= 28 MPa, and fy = 420 MPa. Find the
minimum distance ℓd at which the
negative bars can be cut off, based on
development of the required steel area
at the face of the column by using the
accurate equation and using the
simplified Equations. If The column
section is (400mm*530mm). Find the
minimum length of embedment of the
hook past the column face, and specify
the hook details.

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Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• Example (3): Compute the development length required for

the uncoated bundled bars shown in Figure, if fy = 420 MPa
and fc’ = 28 MPa with normal-weight concrete. Use ACI
Accurate Equation and assume Ktr = 0.If reduction is not
permitted.
• Example (4): The forces in the square column bars of
Figure are to be transferred into the footing with #25 dowels
in high seismic zone. Determine the development lengths
needed for the dowels (1) down into the footing and (2) up
into the column if fy = 420 MPa. The concrete in both the
column and the footing is normal weight.

• 3. Bar Splices (Overlapping):

• In general, reinforcing bars are stocked by
suppliers in maximum lengths of 6m-18m,
because of convenient to work and transport.
• Splices for No. 36 bars and smaller are usually
made simply by lapping the bars.
• Lapped splices prohibits for bars larger than No.
36, except that (No. 43 and No. 57) bars may be
lapped in compression with (No. 36) and smaller.
• Alternative for over lapping, splicing may be
accomplished by welding or by sleeves or
mechanical devices.
• If bars of different sizes must be spliced, (𝑙𝑠 ≥
Greater of “𝑙𝑠 of smaller bar” or “𝑙𝑑 of larger
bar”).

Lecturer: Bedar Rauf Hassan 9

Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• 3. Bar Splices (Overlapping):

• Lap splices of bars in bundles are based on the lap
splice length required for individual bars within
the bundle but must be increased in length by 20
percent for three-bar bundles and by 33 percent
for four-bar bundles.
• Individual bar splices within a bundle should not
overlap, and entire bundles must not be lap-
spliced.
• Overlap of Spiral reinforcement as follow:
• 𝑙𝑠 = 48𝑑𝑏 (For uncoated bars, also for epoxy-
coated bars with a standard tie hooks).
• 𝑙𝑠 = 72𝑑𝑏 (For epoxy-coated bars).

• A. Lap spliced (Overlap) in Tension:

• Based on (ld) in development length with all modification factor, except of
𝐴𝑠(𝑟𝑒𝑞.)
reduction with ( ):
𝐴𝑠(𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑)

Percent of As spliced
𝑨𝒔(𝑷𝒓𝒐.) 𝑨𝒔(𝑹𝒆𝒒.) within required lap Splice Type 𝒍𝒔
length.
𝑙𝑑 and
50 Class A Greater of
300mm
≥2
Greater of 1.3𝑙𝑑 and
100 Class B
300mm
1.3𝑙𝑑 and
<2 All cases Class B Greater of
300mm

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Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• B. Lap Splice (Overlap) in Compression:

• If 𝑓𝑦 ≤ 420 𝑀𝑃𝑎: 𝑙𝑠 = 0.071𝑓𝑦 𝑑𝑏 ≥ 300𝑚𝑚
• If𝑓𝑦 > 420 𝑀𝑃𝑎: 𝑙𝑠 = (0.13𝑓𝑦 − 24)𝑑𝑏 ≥ 300𝑚𝑚
• Note: If 𝑓𝑐′ < 21 𝑀𝑃𝑎. 𝑙𝑠 in both cases increased by (1/3).
• For Column:
• 1. Tie Column: If ties are used throughout the splice length having (Effective
area of Tie ≥0.0015 hs) in both directions, where s is the spacing of ties and h is
the overall thickness of the member, the required splice length may be multiplied
by 0.83 but must be at least 300mm.
• 2. Spiral Column: If Spiral reinforcement confines the splice, the length required
may be multiplied by 0.75 but again must be at least 300mm.

• Example (5): Calculate the lap splice by using accurate equation

for bottom uncoated bar #25mm spaced at (40mm) between them,
if ratio of Provided area steel to required area steel smaller than 2.
and the maximum percentage of reinforcement spliced within the
section is 100%. Given: Normal Concrete fc’=35 MPa, and
fy=420 MPa. Assume Ktr=0.
• Example (6): Calculate the lap-splice length by using simplified
equations for uncoated 6#25 tension bottom bars (in two rows)
with clear spacing between them=60mm and clear cover=40mm
for the following cases: 1. When three bars are spliced and (As
provided)/(As required) > 2. 2. When four bars are spliced and (As
provided)/(As required) < 2. 3. When all bars are spliced at the
same location. Given: Normal Concrete f ′c =28 MPa and fy =420
MPa.
• Example (7): Calculate the lap-splice length for a tied column as
shown. The column has #10mm as ties. Given f ′c = 35MPa, solve
for (a) fy =420 MPa and (b) fy =560 MPa.

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Tishk International University-Civil 12/8/2019
Engineering Department

• 4. Bar cutoff and bend points in beams:

• Theoretical points of Bar Cutoff and Bend point:
• For Simple Span as shown
• For Fixed end Beams as shown

• ACI Code 7.7.3.3 requires that every bar be continued at least a distance equal to
the effective depth of the beam or 12db (whichever is larger) beyond the point at
which it is theoretically no longer required to resist stress, except at supports of
simple spans and at the free end of cantilevers.
• Because the determination of cutoff or bend points may be rather tedious,
practical detail as shown:
• If the beam is monolithic with
exterior columns or with a
concrete wall at that end, details
for a typical interior span could
be used for the end span.

Lecturer: Bedar Rauf Hassan 12