ARMATA

To prevent punching failure of concrete slabs

Version: USA 11/2016

Technical Manual
ARMATA
To prevent punching failure of concrete slabs
Allows for a slim oor
Eliminates column capitals and drop panels above columns
Quick and easy installation
Flexibility in design and delivery
Improves the ductility of slabs
Improves bonding conditions in concrete elements thanks to ribs on the studs
Increased resistances of studs enables better optimization and reduction of the total
number of studs (up to 14%)
Design according to ACI 318-14 for static and seismic loading using Peikko Designer

Peikkos ARMATA is primarily used to increase the punching shear

resistance of cast-in-place concrete slabs without increasing the slabs
thickness. ARMATA can be used in slab-on-grade foundations and in
elevated slabs, such as reinforced concrete slabs or post-tensioned
slabs. When used in elevated slabs, ARMATA can eliminate the need for
drop panels or column caps, thus reducing the costs associated with
formwork for concrete. Compared to traditional reinforcement systems,
ARMATA has the added benet of quick installation times, leading to
reduced labor costs. Moreover, a thinner slab will lead to a lower oor- ARMATA Rail
to-oor height and thereby a reduced building height or the possibility
to have an extra oor within the same building footprint. Besides
increasing the resistance of the slab, ARMATA punching reinforcement
also increases its ductility.

ARMATA is produced from deformed reinforcement bars. The excellent

bonding conditions and mechanical properties of the deformed bars
allow for an optimized slab design by reducing the total amount of
punching reinforcement when compared to slabs reinforced by stirrups
or smooth studs.

ARMATA rails consist of double-headed ribbed studs attached to a steel

at bar. The type, geometry and dimensions of ARMATA rails may be
designed and the resistances of the concrete members reinforced by
ARMATA rails may be veried using Peikko Designer in accordance with ARMATA Punching Reinforcement
the requirements of ACI 318-14.

www.peikkousa.com
Contents

About ARMATA 4

1. Product properties ............................................................................ 4

1.1 Structural behavior ................................................................................... 6

1.2 Limitations for application ....................................................................... 6

1.3 Material properties .................................................................................. 7

2. Resistances ....................................................................................... 7

Select ARMATA 8

Install ARMATA 15

Revision: 001
About ARMATA

1. Product properties
Reinforced concrete slabs are currently one of the most popular structural systems used in residential and commercial
buildings, parking garages and many other types of structure. The system usually consists of slabs that are locally
supported by columns or walls without a beam system (Figure 1). Such a conguration allows for optimal utilization of
the oor area and signicant savings with regards to the total height of the building.

Figure 1. Flat slab supported on columns and walls.

Between supports, the slab is usually designed as a two-way slab to resist bending moments in two orthogonal
directions. Near the support area, the bending moments are combined with transverse loads reactions from supports.
Such combined loading results in a state of stress that may lead to failure of the slab called punching shear. In most
cases, the punching resistance of the slab is limited by the thickness of the concrete slab.

Punching shear usually occurs when a concrete cone is separated from the slab, bending reinforcement is pulled
away from concrete, and the slab falls down due to gravity (Figure 2). Experience shows that failure by punching is
particularly dangerous since it is a brittle phenomenon that occurs suddenly without any previous forewarning signs
(extensive deformations, cracks, etc.). Moreover, the failure of one column may impact the adjacent columns and lead
to a chain reaction failure of the entire reinforced concrete oor.

Figure 2. Failure of a slab by punching.

A slab without vertical reinforcement has a very limited resistance against punching failure. This resistance may be
increased by placing ARMATA rails in the concrete slab in such a manner that it prevents the concrete cone to develop
(Figure 3). Besides increasing the resistance of the slab, ARMATA rails also increase its ductility. ARMATA rails are also
used in foundation slabs in a similar manner as in oor slabs. Other applications are also possible: ARMATA rails can be
used as shear reinforcement in beams and in walls.

Figure 3. Placement of ARMATA rails to prevents punching failure.

4 ARMATA
 About ARMATA

ARMATA rails consist of double-headed ribbed steel studs welded to a steel at bar (Figure 4a). The at bar has no
load-bearing function; it only guarantees the correct spacing and positioning of the studs during their installation in
concrete as prescribed by ASTM-A1044 (2016a).

Figure 4a. Example of an ARMATA rail. Figure 4b. Height and cover of ARMATA studs within
the slab.

C
H
C
H: height
C: cover top and bottom

The height of the ARMATA studs depends on the thickness of the slab and concrete cover of the exural reinforcement
of the slab (Figure 4b). The head of the studs is considered to be fully anchored into the concrete so that the maximum
tensile resistances of ARMATA studs can be developed.

ARMATA studs are available in diameters 38, 12, 58, 34 and 1 and can be identied by the marking PEIKKO A or PG
A and the factory number (Figure 4c).

ARMATA studs are produced in height increments of half an inch (0.5). Studs with quarter-inch increments will be
rounded down to the nearest half-inch increment based on Section 8.7.7.1.1 of ACI 318-14 and Chapter 6 of ACI
421.1R-10. For example: 8.75 long studs will be rounded down to 8.5.

Figure 4c. Marking of ARMATA studs.

Figure 4.

D - Diameter of the head

Marking at the ends of the studs:

H - Height of the studs

PG #
d - Diameter of the shank
A PEIKKO
# A
cross-sectional area
of double headed stud

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About ARMATA

1.1 Structural behavior

The static model of a locally supported slab without punching reinforcement is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The external
loads of the slab are balanced by a system of concrete struts and ties. The punching resistance of the slab is limited by
the tensile strength of the ties.

Figure 5. Forces in the slab without ARMATA before failure. Figure 6. Forces in the slab without ARMATA at failure.

V V
Bending cracks Punching crack

H H

Tension Tension
V V
Compression Compression

Reinforcing the slab with ARMATA involves replacing the concrete ties with vertical steel reinforcement elements
(Figure 7). The tensile force is developed in the shank of the ARMATA studs and anchored into concrete at both ends of
the studs by the heads. The diameter and number of steel elements to be placed in the slab has to be determined so
that:

ARMATA studs adjacent to the loaded area/column have sufficient resistance to prevent the development of a
punching cone
ARMATA punching reinforcement assembly spreads the load further away from the support.

Figure 7. Forces in a slab with ARMATA studs.

V
Tension
Compression

Un-reinforced
area Reinforced area
Compressive V
stress in concrete

1.2 Limitations for application

The ARMATA studs act as vertical tensile components within the system of internal forces in the slab. They have a
limited inuence on the resistance of the compressive component of this system (concrete struts). The design and
detailing of both ARMATA rails and the slab reinforced by ARMATA rails is performed on a case-by-case basis for each
project and approved by the Engineer of Record. A comprehensive set of rules for the verication of the resistance of
slabs reinforced by rail elements under static and seismic loads is provided by ACI 318-14.

6 ARMATA
 About ARMATA

1.3 Material properties

ARMATA studs are fabricated in accordance with A1044/A1044M-16a. The strength and ductility requirements are:

Tensile strength, min 80,000 psi [550 MPa]

Yield strength, min 60,000 psi [420 MPa]
Elongation in 8, min 12% (ARMATA 1)
14% (ARMATA 38, 12, 58, 34)

2. Resistances
The resistance of a concrete member reinforced by ARMATA rails must be veried case-by-case for each project. Peikkos
design software (Peikko Designer) is available online and can be used to design the ARMATA rail type and size, and to
verify the resistances of the concrete members reinforced by the ARMATA rails in accordance with ACI 318-14.

Version: USA 11/2016 7

Select ARMATA

Select ARMATA
An example of the procedure used for the design and selection of ARMATA in accordance with ACI 318-14 created and
implemented in Peikko Designer is presented below.

Column dimension a= 15 in.

b= 15 in. Bending reinforcement
Concrete strength fc = 5500 psi
Concrete density Normal
Slab thickness h= 13 in.
Concrete cover bottom cu = 1 in.
Concrete cover top co = 1 in.

Co

x
Diameter of bending reinforcement dbx = No. 4

h
dby = No. 4

dy
dx
Applied load Vu = 450 kips

Cu
Bending moments MuOx = 20.0 kip-ft
MuOy = 25.0 kip-ft
Position of column Internal column

1. Effective depth of slab

Effective depth

d y h c0 dby / 2 11.75 in.

d x h c0 dby dbx / 2 11.25 in.
dx d y
d 11.5 in.
2

2. Critical section (b0) and Area of critical section (Ac) (ACI 318-14 22.6.4.2)

b0 2 a d b d 106 in. lx
0.5d

Ac b0 d 1219 in. Column

3. Geometrical characteristics of critical section

Centroid of critical section b0
x
l r
b

ly

x ,i i
x0 0 in.
l x ,i

y0
l r y ,i i
0 in.
y
l
0.5d

y ,i

0.5d a 0.5d
Neutral axis properties
Moment of inertia
Principal axis properties
J x d lx ,i ri 1.427 10 5 in.4 Moment of inertia
J1 1.427 10 5 in.4
J y d l y ,i ri 1.427 10 5 in.4
J2 1.427 10 5 in.4
J xy 0in.4
Rotation of principal axis
90

8 ARMATA
 Select ARMATA

4. Design value of punching shear stresses (ACI 318-14 8.4.4)

Moment coefficients
1 1
v ,x 1 0.4 v ,y 1 0.4
2 l 2 l
1 2 1 2
3 l1 3 l1

Moments with eccentricity

M u1 M ux cos M uy sin 25 kip-ft
M u 2 M ux sin M uy cos 20 kip-ft
Shear stress at critical section
v 10 3 v1 M u1 12 10 3 2i v 2 M u 2 12 10 3 1i
vu ,i u 389.215 psi
Ac J1 J2

5. Resistance of slab without punching reinforcement at critical section (ACI 318-14 22.6)
Nominal shear strength for the two-way members without shear reinforcement
vn vc
4
2 f 'c

a d depends on density of concrete
vc min s 2 f 'c 222.486 psi depends on shape of column
b0 s depends on position of column

4 f ' c

Maximum shear strength for the two-way members
8 f 'c 444.972 psi
6. Load bearing capacity of the slab
vn vu 8 f 'c
222.486 389.215 444.972 [psi]
ARMATA punching reinforcement can be used.

No ARMATA punching reinforcement is needed if:

vn vu

ARMATA punching reinforcement can be used if:

vn vu 8 f 'c

Maximum resistance of slab exceeded if:

vu 8 f 'c

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Select ARMATA

7. Dimension of stud (ACI 318-14 8.7.7)

Height of studs
ARMATA studs are produced in height increments
of half an inch (0.5). Studs with quarter-inch
increments will be rounded down to the nearest half
inch increment based on Section 8.7.7.1.1 of ACI
Support
318-14, and Chapter 6 of ACI 421.1R-10. For example:
8.75 long studs will be rounded down to 8.5. s0 s
h hd cu co 11 in.

Spacing between elements

s0 5.75 in.
s 5.75 in.

Check spacing Conditions:

s0 5.75 s0 / d 0.5 0.5 Correct s0 0.5 d
s 5.75 s / d 0.5 0.5 Correct IF : vu 6 f 'c s 0.75d
IF : vu 6 f 'c s 0.5d
(ACI 318-14 Table 8.7.7.1.2)

8. Outer critical section b1 (ACI 318-14 22.6.8)

Nominal shear strength for the two-way members at the outer critical section
vn vc ,out
vc ,out 2 f 'c
b1 Length of outer critical section

2 f 'c vu ,out ( b1 ) iteration Ac ,out Area of outer critical section
c Dimension from column to outer critical section
1
b1 388.2in.
Ac ,out 4464.5in. b1

b0
9. Geometrical characteristics of outer critical section
Centroid of critical section y

x0
lx ,i ri 0 x b
c=d/2
c1
a
lx ,i

y0
l r
y ,i i
0
l y ,i

Neutral axis properties Principal axis properties

Moment of inertia Moment of inertia
J 1, prov 7.653 106 in.4
J x , prov d lx ,i ri 2 7.653 106 in.
J 2, prov 7.653 106 in.4
J y , prov d l y ,i ri 2 7.653 106 in.
J xy , prov 0 in.4
Rotation of principal axis
90

10 ARMATA
 Select ARMATA

10. Design value of punching shear stresses at outer critical section

Shear stress at critical section

vu 10 3 v1 M u1, prov 12 10 2i v 2 M u 2, prov 12 10 1i

3 3

vu ,out 101.925 psi

Ac ,out J 1, prov J 2, prov

11. Resistance of slab with punching reinforcement at outer critical section

vu vn
vn vc ,out vc ,out 2 f 'c
vu ,out 2 f 'c
101.925 111.243 [ psi ]

12. Number of ARMATA studs between column and outer perimeter

57.5"

1"
c1 0.5d s0
nreq 1 9
s

11"
5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75

1"
13. Number of ARMATA Rails around column gy
1. Strength condition mc,req

vu f 'c vs b0 s
vs vc vc mreq
4 f yt AA
2. Spacing condition - mspac
Spacing must fulll conditions acc. ACI 318-14 8.7.7
gx 2 d
gy 2 d

Total number of Rails around column

b

a
gx

mreq
m max 8
mspac

AA - The cross section area of one stud

s - Spacing between adjacent studs
b0 - Length of critical control perimeter
fyt - Specied yield strength of the ARMATA Stud

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Select ARMATA

14. Resistance of slab with ARMATA at critical section

Av f yt Av - the cross-sectional area of the shear reinforcement on

vs , prov 347.920 psi one peripheral line parallel to the perimeter of the column
b0 s
section.
vc , prov 3 f 'c 222.486 psi
vn , prov vc , prov vs , prov 427.805 psi

vn , prov vu
427.81 389.215 psi

15. Result
Complete ARMATA Rails Combined ARMATA Rails
8x ARMATA-0.75-11-9-5.75-5.75 8x ARMATA-0.75-11-4-2.875-5.75
& 8x ARMATA-0.75-11-5-2.875-5.75

Benets of ARMATA

Traditional headed studs with a smooth surface are produced from steel with yield strength 51,000 psi. Since 2016
the standard specication for steel stud assemblies for shear reinforcement of concrete A1044/A1044M-16a has also
allowed the use of double-headed studs produced from ribbed steel. ARMATA studs fulll these new requirements
for ribbed double-headed studs. Based on the A1044/A1044M-16a, ARMATA studs are produced from ribbed
reinforcement, which has higher yield strength (60,000 psi) than traditional smooth studs. The higher strength of
the ribbed studs allows the use of fewer studs in the slab compared with a design using smooth studs. The higher
performance of the ARMATA ribbed studs can reduce the total number of studs per column by an average of 14%.

The benets of using ARMATA studs can be seen in Table 1. The cases presented, with a slab concrete strength of 5000
psi, are designed either with smooth studs and ARMATA ribbed studs. The comparison shows the reduction in the total
number of studs per column when ARMATA ribbed studs are used instead of smooth studs.

Table 1. Comparison of amount of smooth studs and ARMATA ribbed studs.

Load Number of Number of

Thickness of Diameter of
Case Column smooth studs ARMATA studs
the slab VEd MuOx MuOy the stud
per column per column
[in] [in] [kips] [kip-ft] [kip-ft] [in] [pcs] [pcs]
1 12 10 25 365 98 50 58 96 80
2 10 14 14 245 30 25 12 100 80
3 15 16 16 458 28 36 34 50 40
4 10 10 10 205 15 22 12 80 64
5 22 14 18 879 98 152 1 50 40

12 ARMATA
 Select ARMATA

The resulting type and layout of the reinforcement proposed by Peikko Designer is the most economical design. If
needed, the diameter of studs and the number of ARMATA rails can be manually modied by the user. The designed
ARMATA punching reinforcement assembly will be dened by a unique Peikko item code. The plan and section
drawings of the selected ARMATA reinforcement can also be printed by Peikko Designer or exported as DWG les. The
printed output of Peikko Designer also includes a summary of input data and static verications of resistances for
each individual case within each project. The list of recommended accessories for the installation of ARMATA is also
available in the printed output of Peikko Designer. The ARMATA rail may be provided either as a complete element
(with all ARMATA studs welded to one steel shape) or may be assembled on-site from two or more shorter symmetrical
ARMATA rails (Figure 8).

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Select ARMATA

Figure 8. Complete ARMATA rail and equivalent solution with a combination of shorter ARMATA rails.

Peikko : 8x ARMATA-0.75-11-9-5.75-5.75 Peikko : 8x ARMATA-0.75-11-4-2.875-5.75 &

8x ARMATA-0.75-11-5-2.875-5.75
57.5

1
23 28.75

11

11
5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 2.875 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 2.875

1
2.875 2.875

The typical procedure for selecting the appropriate type of ARMATA using Peikko Designer is summarized in the diagram
in Figure 9.

Figure 9. Procedure to select ARMATA.

Materials
User input

Geometry
Forces
Type of ARMATA

Height of studs
Design of ARMATA

Automatic procedure by Peikko Designer

Number of studs
Diameter of studs
Spacing of studs
Slab without ARMATA
Resistance of slab

Max. resistance of slab (crushing of concrete)

Slab with ARMATA
Slab outside of the area reinforced by ARMATA

8xARMATA - 1-15-9-7.5-7.5

Spacing of studs within the ARMATA Rail

Number of ARMATA Rails around the column
element between stud
Type of stud
Spacing of studs within the ARMATA Rail
Diameter of ARMATA Stud element between the column and rst stud

Height of the ARMATA Stud Number of ARMATA Studs within one rail

14 ARMATA
 Install ARMATA

Install ARMATA
ARMATA rails are installed in the slab according to the design plans. Each ARMATA rail is identied by a color code
located at the end of the rail. The color code is determined by the number of rail congurations for each column for a
specic project.
Example: SR-1 is red and SR-2 is blue.
COLUMN

COLOR CODED END

Bottom installation: ARMATA rails are placed below the main reinforcement of the slab prior to the
installation of the bending reinforcement. In order to achieve a sufficient concrete cover of the headed studs,
plastic spacers are mounted onto the ARMATA rails. Spacers are delivered with the ARMATA rails.

1 2

3 4
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Install ARMATA

Top installation: The ARMATA rails are placed on top of the main reinforcement of the slab. All bending
reinforcement is installed prior to the ARMATA rails.

1 2

3 4

16 ARMATA
 Notes

Version: USA 11/2016 17

Notes

18 ARMATA
 Notes

Version: USA 11/2016 19

PEIKKO GROUP CORPORATION

Peikko Group Corporation is a leading global supplier of concrete

connections and composite structures. Peikkos innovative solutions
make the customers building process faster, easier and more reliable.
Peikko has subsidiaries in over 30 countries in Asia-Pacic, Europe,
the Middle East, and North America, with manufacturing operations
in 9 countries. Our aim is to serve our customers locally with leading
solutions in the eld in terms of quality, safety, and innovation.

Peikko is a family-owned and run company with over 1200

professionals. Peikko was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in
Lahti, Finland.

Printed in Canada

Peikko Group - Concrete Connections since 1965