RC Detailing to Eurocode 2

Jenny Burridge
MA CEng MICE MIStructE
Head of Structural Engineering

Structural Eurocodes
BS EN 1990 (EC0):

Basis of structural design

BS EN 1991 (EC1):

Actions on Structures

BS EN 1992 (EC2):

Design of concrete structures

BS EN 1993 (EC3):

Design of steel structures

BS EN 1994 (EC4):

Design of composite steel and concrete structures

BS EN 1995 (EC5):

Design of timber structures

BS EN 1996 (EC6):

Design of masonry structures

BS EN 1999 (EC9):

Design of aluminium structures

BS EN 1997 (EC7):

Geotechnical design

BS EN 1998 (EC8):

Design of structures for earthquake resistance

Eurocode 2 - contents

General

Basis of design

Materials

Durability and cover to reinforcement

Structural analysis

Ultimate limit state

Serviceability limit state

Detailing of reinforcement and prestressing tendons General

Detailing of member and particular rules

Additional rules for precast concrete elements and structures

Lightweight aggregated concrete structures

Plain and lightly reinforced concrete structures

Eurocode 2 - Annexes
A. (Informative)

Modification of partial factors for materials

B. (Informative)

Creep and shrinkage strain

C. (Normative)

Reinforcement properties

D. (Informative)

Detailed calculation method for prestressing steel

relaxation losses

E. (Informative)

Indicative Strength Classes for durability

F. (Informative)

Reinforcement expressions for in-plane stress

conditions

G. (Informative)

Soil structure interaction

H. (Informative)

Global second order effects in structures

I. (Informative)

Analysis of flat slabs and shear walls

J. (Informative)

Examples of regions with discontinuity in geometry or

action (Detailing rules for particular situations)
EC2 Annex J - replaced by Annex B in PD 6687

Standards
BS EN 13670
Execution of
Structures
N.A.
BS EN 206-1
Specifying
Concrete

Part 1-1:
BS 8500
Specifying
Concrete

NSCS

BS EN 1992
Design of concrete structures

BS EN 10080
Reinforcing
Steels

General & buildings

Part 1-2:

Fire design

Part 2:

Bridges

Part 3:

Liquid retaining

BS 4449
Reinforcing
Steels

PD 6687-1 (Parts 1 & 3)

PD 6687-2 ( Part 2)

National Annex
BS 8666
Reinforcement
Scheduling

Specification NSCS, Finishes

NSCS Guidance:
1 Basic
2 Ordinary
3 Plain
4 Special Visual Concrete

Labour and Material (Peri)

24%
58%

18%

Rationalisation of Reinforcement

Optimum cost depends

on:
Material cost
Labour
Plant
Preliminaries
Finance

Team decision required

Detailing

Reinforcement

Reinforcement

EC2 does not cover the use of plain or mild steel reinforcement

Principles and Rules are given for deformed bars, decoiled rods,
welded fabric and lattice girders.

EN 10080 provides the performance characteristics and testing methods

but does not specify the material properties. These are given in Annex
C of EC2

Properties of reinforcement
(Annex C)
Product form

Class
Characteristic yield
strength fyk or f0,2k (MPa)

Bars and de-coiled rods

cold worked

Wire Fabrics

400 to 600
hot rolled

seismic

k = (ft/fy)k

1,05

1,08

1,15
<1,35

1,05

1,08

1,15
<1,35

Characteristic strain at
maximum force, uk (%)

2,5

5,0

7,5

2,5

5,0

7,5

Fatigue stress range

(N = 2 x 106) (MPa) with
an upper limit of 0.6fyk

150

100

The UK has chosen a maximum value of characteristic yield strength, fyk, = 600 MPa,
but 500 MPa is the value assumed in BS 4449 and 4483 for normal supply.

Extract BS 8666

www.ukcares.co.uk
www.uk-bar.org
UK CARES (Certification - Product & Companies)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Reinforcing bar and coil

Reinforcing fabric
Steel wire for direct use of for further
processing
Cut and bent reinforcement
Welding and prefabrication of reinforcing

steel

www.ukcares.co.uk
www.uk-bar.org
A

Reinforcement supply
Coil up to 16mm (2.5T)
Bar 12,14,15 and 18m
Cut and bent approx 550 to 650/T

Table power bender

Health & Safety

High Risk

Potential Risk factor

Low

33,51,56,63,64 & 99?

Medium
High

SC

Detail

Comment

Designer

Fabricator

33

Sausage Link.
Health and safety risk is high with
larger diameter bar.
Also the risk increases with small
dimensions.
When bent on an automatic link bender
with small diameter bars the risk is
relatively low. When bending on a
manual bender the risk is high,
especially with larger diameters and
non standard formers.

This shape is designed for

producing small to medium
sized links in small diameter
bar.
Do not detail this shape in
large diameter bar, try to
use an alternative (eg. 2 no.
shape code 13s facing each
other to create a shape
code 33).
See Note SN2.

See Note SN2.

Great care should be taken
when bending this shape. If
the operator has concerns
when producing this shape
he should consult his
supervisor.

64

Boot Link.
Greater risk than shape code 51 as the
bars have to cross over twice to
achieve the shape.
Health and safety risk becomes higher
with larger diameter bar.
Also the risk increases with small
dimensions.
See Note SN2.
When bent on an automatic link bender
with small diameter bars the risk is
relatively low. When bending on a
manual bender the risk is higher,
especially with larger diameters.

Smaller diameter bars cause

less of a problem as they
can often be produced on
an automatic link bending
machine. Larger diameter
bars have to be produced on
a manual power bender with
the potential to trap the
operators fingers. Try to
avoid/minimise the use of
shapes which cause a scissor
action, especially with
larger diameter bars.

Bending
Minimum Bending & projections
Minimum Bends
6mm - 16mm = 2x Dia Internal
20mm - 50mm = 3.5x Dia Internal
Minimum of 4 x dia between bends
End Projection = 5 x Dia from end of bend
BS8666, Table 2

Tolerances (not in EC2BS8666)

Minimum Cover for Bond

For bars: Bar diameter
For post-tensioned tendons:
Circular ducts: Duct diameter
Rectangular ducts: The greater of:
the smaller dimension or
half the greater dimension

For pre-tensioned tendons:

1.5 x diameter of strand or wire
2.5 x diameter of indented wire

Structural Fire Design

BS EN 1992-1-2
Scope:
Part 1-2 Structural fire design gives several methods for fire engineering
Tabulated data for various elements is given in section 5

Reinforcement cover
Axis distance, a, to centre of bar
a = c + m/2 + l

Axis
Distance

Allowance in Design for

Deviation
cdev: Allowance for deviation = 10mm
A reduction in cdev may be permitted:
for a quality assurance system, which includes measuring concrete
cover,
10 mm cdev 5 mm
where very accurate measurements are taken and non conforming
members are rejected (eg precast elements)
10 mm cdev 0 mm

Nominal Cover

Nominal cover, cnom

Minimum cover, cmin
cmin = max {cmin,b; cmin,dur ; 10 mm}

Allowance for deviation, cdev

Axis distance, a
Fire protection

Procurement

Lead-in times should be 4 weeks for rebar

Express reinforcement (and therefore expensive) 1 7 days

The more complicated the scheduling the longer for bending

Standard Detailing
Practicalities
12m maximum length H20 to H40
(12m H40 = 18 stone/ 118Kg)
Health & safety
9m maximum length H16 & H12
6m maximum length H10 & H8
Transport
Fixing

Control of Cracking
EC2: Cl. 7.3

In Eurocode 2 cracking is controlled in the following ways:

Minimum areas of reinforcement cl 7.3.2 & Equ 7.1
As,mins = kckfct,effAct this is the same as
Crack width limits (Cl. 7.3.1 and National Annex). These
limits can be met by either:
direct calculation (Cl. 7.3.4) crack width is Wk Used
for liquid retaining structures
deemed to satisfy rules (Cl. 7.3.3)
Note: slabs 200mm depth are OK if As,min is provided.

Minimum Reinforcement Area

EC2: Cl. 9.2.1.1, Eq 9.1N
The minimum area of reinforcement for slabs (and beams) is given by:

A s,min

0.26 fctm bt d
0.0013 b t d
fyk

Crack Control Without Direct

EC2: Cl. 7.3.3
Calculation
Provide minimum reinforcement.
Crack control may be achieved in two ways:
limiting the maximum bar diameter using Table 7.2N
limiting the maximum bar spacing using Table 7.3N

Note: For cracking due to restraint use only max bar size

Spacing of bars
EC2: Cl. 8.2
Clear horizontal and vertical distance , (dg +5mm) or 20mm
For separate horizontal layers the bars in each layer should be
located vertically above each other. There should be room to allow
access for vibrators and good compaction of concrete.

Ultimate bond stress

EC2: Cl. 8.4.2
The design value of the ultimate bond stress, fbd = 2.25 12fctd
where fctd should be limited to C60/75
1 =1 for good and 0.7 for poor bond conditions
2 = 1 for 32, otherwise (132- )/100
Direction of concreting

a) 45 90
Direction of concreting

Direction of concreting

250

c) h > 250 mm
Direction of concreting
300
h

b) h 250 mm

d) h > 600 mm

unhatched zone good bond conditions

hatched zone - poor bond conditions

Basic required anchorage length

EC2: Cl. 8.4.3

lb,rqd = ( / 4) (sd / fbd)

where sd is the design stress of the bar at the position
from where the anchorage is measured.
For bent bars lb,rqd should be measured along the
centreline of the bar

Design Anchorage Length, lbd

EC2: Cl. 8.4.4
lbd = 1 2 3 4 5 lb,rqd lb,min
However:
(2 3 5) 0.7
lb,min > max(0.3lb,rqd ; 10, 100mm)

Alpha values
EC2: Table 8.2

Table 8.2 - Cd & K factors

EC2: Figure 8.3

EC2: Figure 8.4

Anchorage of links
EC2: Cl. 8.5

Design Lap Length, l0 (8.7.3)

EC2: Cl. 8.7.3
l0 = 1 2 3 5 6 lb,rqd l0,min
1 2 3 5 are as defined for anchorage length
6 = (1/25)0,5 but between 1.0 and 1.5
where 1 is the % of reinforcement lapped within 0.65l0 from the
centre of the lap
Percentage of lapped bars
relative to the total crosssection area
6

< 25%

33%

50%

>50%

1.15

1.4

1.5

Note: Intermediate values may be determined by interpolation.

l0,min max{0.3 6 lb,rqd; 15; 200}

Worked example
Anchorage and lap lengths

Anchorage Worked Example

Calculate the tension anchorage for an H16 bar in the
bottom of a slab:
a) Straight bars
b) Other shape bars (Fig 8.1 b, c and d)

Concrete strength class is C25/30

Nominal cover is 25mm

Bond stress, fbd

fbd = 2.25 1 2 fctd

EC2 Equ. 8.2

1 = 1.0 Good bond conditions

2 = 1.0 bar size 32
fctd = ct fctk,0,05/c
ct = 1.0

EC2 cl 3.1.6(2), Equ 3.16

c = 1.5

fctk,0,05 = 0.7 x 0.3 fck2/3

EC2 Table 3.1

= 0.21 x 252/3
= 1.8 MPa
fctd = ct fctk,0,05/c = 1.8/1.5 = 1.2

fbd = 2.25 x 1.2 = 2.7 MPa

Basic anchorage length, lb,req

lb.req

= (/4) ( sd/fbd)

EC2 Equ 8.3

Max stress in the bar, sd = fyk/s = 500/1.15

= 435MPa.
lb.req

= (/4) ( 435/2.7)
= 40.3
For concrete class C25/30

Design anchorage length, lbd

lbd = 1 2 3 4 5 lb.req lb,min
lbd = 1 2 3 4 5 (40.3)

For concrete class C25/30

Alpha values
EC2: Table 8.2

Concise: 11.4.2

Table 8.2 - Cd & K factors

EC2: Figure 8.3

Concise: Figure 11.3

EC2: Figure 8.4

Design anchorage length, lbd

lbd = 1 2 3 4 5 lb.req lb,min
lbd = 1 2 3 4 5 (40.3)

For concrete class C25/30

a) Tension anchorage straight bar

1 = 1.0
3 = 1.0

conservative value with K= 0

4 = 1.0

N/A

5 = 1.0

conservative value

2 = 1.0 0.15 (cd )/

2 = 1.0 0.15 (25 16)/16 = 0.916
lbd = 0.916 x 40.3 = 36.9 = 590mm

Design anchorage length, lbd

lbd = 1 2 3 4 5 lb.req lb,min
lbd = 1 2 3 4 5 (40.3)

For concrete class C25/30

b) Tension anchorage Other shape bars

1 = 1.0

cd = 25 is 3 = 3 x 16 = 48

3 = 1.0

conservative value with K= 0

4 = 1.0

N/A

5 = 1.0

conservative value

2 = 1.0 0.15 (cd 3)/ 1.0

2 = 1.0 0.15 (25 48)/16 = 1.25 1.0
lbd = 1.0 x 40.3 = 40.3 = 645mm

Worked example - summary

H16 Bars Concrete class C25/30 25 Nominal cover
Tension anchorage straight bar

lbd = 36.9 = 590mm

Tension anchorage Other shape bars

lbd = 40.3 = 645mm

lbd is measured along the centreline of the bar

Compression anchorage (1 = 2 = 3 = 4 = 5 = 1.0)
lbd = 40.3 = 645mm
Anchorage for Poor bond conditions = Good/0.7
Lap length = anchorage length x 6

Anchorage & lap lengths

How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2

Arrangement of Laps
EC2: Cl. 8.7.2, Fig 8.7

If more than one layer a maximum

of 50% can be lapped

Arrangement of Laps
EC2: Cl. 8.7.3, Fig 8.8

Transverse Reinforcement
Anchorage of bars

There is transverse tension reinforcement required

Transverse Reinforcement
Lapping of bars

F tan

F tan
F/2

F/2

There is transverse tension reinforcement required

Transverse Reinforcement at Laps

Bars in tension
EC2: Cl. 8.7.4, Fig 8.9

only if bar 20mm or laps > 25%

Where the diameter, , of the lapped bars 20 mm, the transverse

reinforcement should have a total area, Ast 1,0As of one spliced bar. It
should be placed perpendicular to the direction of the lapped
reinforcement and between that and the surface of the concrete.

If more than 50% of the reinforcement is lapped at one point and the
distance between adjacent laps at a section is 10 transverse bars should
be formed by links or U bars anchored into the body of the section.

The transverse reinforcement provided as above should be positioned at

the outer sections of the lap as shown below.

Ast /2

Ast /2

l 0 /3

l 0 /3

150 mm F
s

Fs

l0

Beams
EC2: Cl. 9.2

As,min = 0,26 (fctm/fyk)btd but 0,0013btd

As,max = 0,04 Ac
Section at supports should be designed for a
hogging moment 0,25 max. span moment
Any design compression reinforcement () should be
held by transverse reinforcement with spacing 15

Beams
EC2: Cl. 9.2

Tension reinforcement in a flanged beam at

supports should be spread over the effective width
(see 5.3.2.1)

Shear Design: Links

EC2: Cl. 6.2.3

Variable strut method allows a shallower strut angle

hence activating more links.
As strut angle reduces concrete stress increases

V
z

s
d

Angle = 45 V carried on 3 links

Angle = 21.8 V carried on 6 links

Short Shear Spans with Direct

Strut Action
EC2: Cl. 6.2.3 (8)
d
av

d
av

Where av 2d the applied shear force, VEd, for a point load

(eg, corbel, pile cap etc) may be reduced by a factor av/2d
where 0.5 av 2d provided:
The longitudinal reinforcement is fully anchored at the support.
Only that shear reinforcement provided within the central 0.75av is
included in the resistance.

Note: see PD6687-1:2010 Cl 2.14 for more information.

Shear reinforcement
EC2: Cl. 9.2.2

Minimum shear reinforcement, w,min = (0,08fck)/fyk

Maximum longitudinal spacing, sl,max = 0,75d (1 + cot)

For vertical links sl,max = 0,75d
Maximum transverse spacing, st,max = 0,75d 600 mm

Shear Design
EC2: Cl. 6.2.3

V
z

x
s

Curtailment of reinforcement
EC2: Cl. 9.2.1.3, Fig 9.2
Envelope of (M Ed /z +N Ed )

lbd
lbd

Acting tensile force

Resisting tensile force

lbd

al

lbd

Ftd

al
Ftd
lbd

lbd

Shift rule

lbd

lbd

For members without shear reinforcement this is satisfied with al = d

For members with shear reinforcement: al = 0.5 z Cot
But it is always conservative to use al = 1.125d

Anchorage of Bottom
Reinforcement at End Supports
EC2: Cl. 9.2.1.4
Tensile Force Envelope
al

Shear shift rule

Simple support (indirect)

Simple support (direct)

As bottom steel at support 0.25 As provided in the span

lbd is required from the line of contact of the support.
Transverse pressure may only be taken into account with
a direct support.

Simplified Detailing Rules for

Beams

Supporting Reinforcement at
Indirect Supports
EC2: Cl. 9.2.5
A
B

supporting beam with height h1

supported beam with height h2 (h1 h2)

h 2 /3

h 2 /2

Plan view
The supporting reinforcement is in
addition to that required for other
reasons

h 1 /3

h 1 /2

The supporting links may be placed in a zone beyond

the intersection of beams

Solid slabs
EC2: Cl. 9.3

Curtailment as beams except for the Shift rule al = d

may be used
Flexural Reinforcement min and max areas as beam
Secondary transverse steel not less than 20% main
reinforcement
Reinforcement at Free Edges

Solid slabs
EC2: Cl. 9.3

Where partial fixity exists, not taken into account in design: Internal
supports: As,top 0,25As for Mmax in adjacent span
End supports:
As,top 0,15As for Mmax in adjacent span
This top reinforcement should extend 0,2 adjacent span

Particular rules for flat slabs

Distribution of moments
EC2: Table I.1

Particular rules for flat slabs

EC2: Cl. 9.4

Arrangement of reinforcement should reflect behaviour

under working conditions.
At internal columns 0.5At should be placed in a width =
0.25 panel width.
At least two bottom bars should pass through internal
columns in each orthogonal directions.

Columns
EC2: Cl. 9.5.2

h 4b
min 12
As,min = 0,10NEd/fyd but 0,002 Ac
As,max = 0.04 Ac

(0,08Ac at laps)

Minimum number of bars in a circular column is 4.

Where direction of longitudinal bars changes more than
1:12 the spacing of transverse reinforcement should be
calculated.

Columns
EC2: Cl. 9.5.3

150mm

scl,tmax

150mm

scl,tmax = min {20 min; b ; 400mm}

scl,tmax should be reduced by a factor 0,6:
in sections within h above or below a beam
or slab
near lapped joints where > 14.
A min of 3 bars is required in lap length
scl,tmax = min {12 min; 0.6b ; 240mm}

Walls
Vertical Reinforcement
As,vmin = 0,002 Ac (half located at each face)
As,vmax = 0.04 Ac

(0,08Ac at laps)

svmax = 3 wall thickness or 400mm

Horizontal Reinforcement
As,hmin = 0,25 Vert. Rein. or 0,001Ac
shmax = 400mm
Transverse Reinforcement
Where total vert. rein. exceeds 0,02 Ac links required as
for columns
Where main rein. placed closest to face of wall links are
required (at least 4No. m2). [Not required for welded mesh or bars
16mm with cover at least 2.]

Detailing Comparisons
Beams

EC2

BS 8110

Main Bars in Tension

Clause / Values

As,min

9.2.1.1 (1):
0.0013 bd

0.26 fctm/fykbd

0.0013 bh

As,max

9.2.1.1 (3):

0.04 bd

0.04 bh

Values

Main Bars in Compression

As,min

--

0.002 bh

As,max

9.2.1.1 (3):

0.04 bd

0.04 bh

Spacing of Main Bars

dg + 5 mm or or 20mm

smin

8.2 (2):

Smax

Table 7.3N

dg + 5 mm or
Table 3.28

Links
Asw,min

9.2.2 (5):

(0.08 b s fck)/fyk

0.4 b s/0.87 fyv

sl,max

9.2.2 (6):

0.75 d

0.75d

st,max

9.2.2 (8):

0.75 d 600 mm

d or 150 mm from main bar

9.2.1.2 (3) or 15 from main bar

Detailing Comparisons
Slabs

EC2

BS 8110

Main Bars in Tension

Clause / Values

As,min

9.2.1.1 (1):

As,max

0.04 bd

0.26 fctm/fykbd
0.0013 bd

Values
0.0013 bh
0.04 bh

Secondary Transverse Bars

As,min

9.3.1.1 (2):

0.2As for single way

slabs

0.002 bh

As,max

9.2.1.1 (3):

0.04 bd

0.04 bh

Spacing of Bars
smin

8.2 (2):

dg + 5 mm or or 20mm

dg + 5 mm or

9.3.1.1 (3): main 3h 400 mm

Smax

secondary: 3.5h 450 mm

3d or 750 mm

places of maximum moment:

main:

2h 250 mm

secondary: 3h 400 mm

Detailing Comparisons
Punching Shear

EC2

BS 8110

Links

Clause / Values

Values

Asw,min

9.4.3 (2):
(fck)/fyk

Link leg = 0.053 sr st

Total = 0.4ud/0.87fyv

Sr

9.4.3 (1):

0.75d

0.75d

St

9.4.3 (1):

Spacing of Links

1.5d

within 1st control perim.: 1.5d

outside 1st control perim.: 2d
Columns
Main Bars in Compression
As,min

9.5.2 (2): 0.10NEd/fyk 0.002bh

0.004 bh

As,max

9.5.2 (3):

0.06 bh

0.04 bh

Links
Min size

9.5.3 (1) 0.25 or 6 mm

0.25 or 6 mm

Scl,tmax

9.5.3 (3): min (12min; 0.6 b;240 mm)

12

9.5.3 (6): 150 mm from main bar

150 mm from main bar

How toCompendium

Detailing

www.eurocode2.info

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