2.6.2 Minimum Spacing Between Reinforcement Bars: The Art of Construction and The Design

The Art of Construction and The Design
2.6.2 Minimum spacing between reinforcement bars
The distance among reinforcement bars must be such to allow the concretes gravel to pass between them. In order to have properly anchored reinforcement, it is mandatory for rebars to be
surrounded by concrete.
The minimum spacing between two reinforcement bars should be at least equal to the maximum
aggregate grain dimension with a margin of 5 mm. For Greece, the maximum aggregate grains
dimension for usual concrete, is 32 mm and for self compacting concrete is 16 mm.
Usual Concrete
Self Compacting Concrete
Example:
Usual Concrete
Self Compacting Concrete
Beam 420
Beam 420
Stirrups 10
Stirrups 10
Coating =30 mm
Coating =30 mm
These spacing requirements are easily met in slabs and columns. However in beams extra attention must be paid mainly to the support and the joint areas. The problem in beams is related
to the concretes casting and it can be dealt with three different ways or in certain occasions
with a combination of them.
EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT BUILDINGS
105
Volume
For satisfactory results it is very important not only to use the vibrator in the proper way but also
to avoid over-vibrating the concrete of the elements.
a) Large beam width
b) Use of the second

layer,
which
is
placed in contact
with the stirrups.
c) By placing rebars on both

outer sides of the beams
main body.
It is allowed to place 25%
of the total reinforcement
outside the beams main
body.
Connecting beams in foundation

Concrete casting in foundation connecting beams is not an easy procedure. These beams are
not fixed together with a slab as are superstructure beams; consequently concrete has to be
purred down the beams
tight top opening and reach
the bottom side.
Because of the fact that
connecting beams normally
have a large height as well
as a large internal lever, it is
preferable to place rebars in
two or even three layers
along their height.
106
Apostolos Konstantinides
Volume
Simple hook anchorage
As far as the bar anchorage for slabs or beams is refereed to as simple hook anchorage then metal pins
should be placed in the bending areas with a diameter
108
Anchorage with drum

In columns that have a small dimension in the anchorage
direction, (see the table below) the bending is implemented with the use of a large diameter drum.
The minimum diameter of the drum is inversely proportional to the strength of the concrete and proportional to
the steel strength.
For grade C30/37 concrete and B500 steel, for various

bar diameters, the minimum bending drum diameter and the minimum column dimension are
displayed in the following table.
(mm)
Minimum Drum Diameter
m (mm)
14
16
18
20
22
25
28
32
40
190
220
250
290
330
390
450
530
700
220
250
280
310
340
390
440
500
640
C30/37
Minimum Column Dimensions bmin (mm)
Anchorage with drum in a small sized column.

109
A column with 10% fewer rebars has around 10% lower capacity strength. However, if we remove even a single intermediate stirrup, the capacity strength of that same column will be lowered even by 50%. This happens because the stirrups removal doubles the buckling length of
the rebars previously enclosed by it.
In a seismic event, columns always fail in the same way:

a. When stirrups open, concrete disintegration in the columns head or foot occurs.
b. Once the stirrups ends become apart, longitudinal reinforcement buckling and concrete
disintegration take place.
That type of failure does not appear only to columns dimensioned according to old regulations
and therefore have fewer rebars but also to newer columns with large amount of reinforcement,
when they are not constructed according to the correct specifications:
a. with internal and external stirrup adequacy,
b. with correctly formed, antiseismic stirrups.
Throughout the world, structures collapse even when they have a large amount of reinforcement. The reason for this is always the same; lack of properly shaped and placed stirrups.
111
Volume
During a seismic event

intense forces are applied to both concrete
and reinforcement bars.
These forces cause the
lateral enlargement of
the former and the buckling of the latter up to the
point of their fracture.
Typical failure of a columns upper part.

The
earthquake
resistance of beams and
columns depends mainly
upon their vertical reinforcement. Stirrups ensure the confinement of
the rebars fitted inside
them and the integrity of
the concrete that tends to
spall due to lateral enlargement. If stirrups are
not properly anchored
they may open even in
low
intensity
seismic
events.
Failure of a column dimensioned according to old regulations that required a peripheral stirrup with its end bent in
90 instead of 135 (45).
Generally column failure is induced by rebar buckling which leads to the fracture of longitudinal
reinforcement. When there is adequate confinement, buckling length equals the distance between the stirrups. However in cases of loose end stirrups (open stirrups), according to the
Greek Code, buckling length may reach twice or three times the stirrups spacing in the critical
duration of an earthquake.
112

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The Art of Construction and The Design

2.6.2 Minimum spacing between reinforcement bars

Self Compacting Concrete

Self Compacting Concrete

a) Large beam width

b) Use of the second

c) By placing rebars on both

Connecting beams in foundation

Simple hook anchorage

The Art of Construction and The Design

Anchorage with drum

For grade C30/37 concrete and B500 steel, for various

Anchorage with drum in a small sized column.

The Art of Construction and The Design

In a seismic event, columns always fail in the same way:

EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT BUILDINGS

During a seismic event

Typical failure of a columns upper part.

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