RC Detailing to EC2

Jenny Burridge
MA CEng MICE MIStructE
Head of Structural Engineering
R C Detailing to Eurocode 2

• Eurocodes & Standards

• Materials, Cover & Detailing
• Cracking and minimum steel
• Anchorage & Laps + Worked Example
• Beams, Slabs, Columns & Walls
• Detailing comparison BS8110 & EC2
• Resources
Standards
BS EN 13670
Execution of
Structures

BS EN 206-1
Specifying BS EN 1992
Concrete Design of concrete structures
BS EN 10080
Part 1-1: General & buildings
Reinforcing
BS 8500 Part 1-2: Fire design Steels
Specifying
Part 2: Bridges
Concrete
Part 3: Liquid retaining BS 4449
Reinforcing
Steels

PD 6687-1 (Parts 1 & 3)

National Annex
PD 6687-2 ( Part 2) BS 8666
Reinforcement
Scheduling
Eurocode 2 - contents

1. General
2. Basis of design
3. Materials
4. Durability and cover to reinforcement
5. Structural analysis
6. Ultimate limit state
7. Serviceability limit state
8. Detailing of reinforcement and prestressing tendons – General
9. Detailing of member and particular rules
10. Additional rules for precast concrete elements and structures
11. Lightweight aggregated concrete structures
12. 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

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 Bars and de-coiled rods Wire Fabrics

Class A B C A B C

Characteristic yield 400 to 600

strength fyk or f0,2k (MPa)

k = (ft/fy)k ≥1,05 ≥1,08 ≥1,15 ≥1,05 ≥1,08 ≥1,15

<1,35 <1,35

Characteristic strain at ≥2,5 ≥5,0 ≥7,5 ≥2,5 ≥5,0 ≥7,5

maximum force, εuk (%)

Fatigue stress range

(N = 2 x 106) (MPa) with 150 100
an upper limit of 0.6fyk

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
Reinforcement
Min. Mandrel Dia. for bent bars
EC2: Cl. 8.3
Minimum mandrel size, φm
• To avoid damage to bar is
Bar dia ≤ 16mm Mandrel size 4 x bar diameter
Bar dia > 16mm Mandrel size 7 x bar diameter
The bar should extend at least 5 diameters beyond a bend

• To avoid failure of the concrete inside the bend of the bar:

φ m,min ≥ Fbt ((1/ab) +1/(2 φ)) / fcd Bearing stress inside bends
Fbt ultimate force in a bar at the start of a bend
ab for a given bar is half the centre-to-centre distance between bars.
For a bar adjacent to the face of the member, ab should be taken as
the cover plus φ /2
Min. Mandrel Dia. for bent bars
EC2: Cl. 8.3
Minimum mandrel size, φm

Stress inside bends

Mandrel size need not be checked to avoid concrete failure if :

– anchorage does not require more than 5φ past end of bend
– bar is not the closest to edge face and there is a cross bar ≥φ inside bend
– mandrel size is at least equal to the recommended minimum value
EC2 - Cover
Nominal cover
Nominal cover, cnom

Minimum cover, cmin

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

durability as per BS 8500 bond ≡φ

Allowance for deviation, ∆cdev

10 mm
Recommended

Axis distance, a
Fire protection
13
Tables in Section 5 of part 1-2
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
Tolerances (in BS8666)
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,minσs = 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:

0.26 fctm b t d
A s,min ≥ ≥ 0.0013 b t d
fyk
Crack Control Without Direct
Calculation EC2: Cl. 7.3.3

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
Minimum spacing of bars
EC2: Cl. 8.2

• Clear horizontal and vertical distance ≥ φ, (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 η1η2fctd
where fctd should be limited to C60/75
η1 =1 for ‘good’ and 0.7 for ‘poor’ bond conditions
η2 = 1 for φ ≤ 32, otherwise (132- φ)/100
Direction of concreting Direction of concreting

α 250

a) 45º ≤ α ≤ 90º c) h > 250 mm

Direction of concreting
Direction of concreting

≥ 300
h 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 = (φ / 4) (σsd / fbd)

where σsd 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 = α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 lb,rqd ≥ lb,min

However:
(α2 α3 α5) ≥ 0.7

lb,min > max(0.3lb,rqd ; 10φ, 100mm)

Alpha values
EC2: Table 8.2

Cover (see fig 8.3)

Confinement (see fig 8.4)

(∑Ast-∑Ast,min)/As

Pressure
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 = α1 α2 α3 α5 α6 lb,rqd ≥ l0,min

α1 α2 α3 α5 are as defined for anchorage length

α6 = (ρ1/25)0,5 but between 1.0 and 1.5

where ρ1 is the % of reinforcement lapped within 0.65l0 from the
centre of the lap

Percentage of lapped bars < 25% 33% 50% >50%

relative to the total cross-
section area
α6 1 1.15 1.4 1.5
Note: Intermediate values may be determined by interpolation.

l0,min ≥ max{0.3 α6 lb,rqd; 15φ; 200}

 Worked example

Anchorage and lap lengths

Anchorage Worked Example

Calculate the tension anchorage for an H16 bar in the

bottom of a slab (assuming fully stressed):
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 η1 η2 fctd EC2 Equ. 8.2
η1 = 1.0 ‘Good’ bond conditions
η2 = 1.0 bar size ≤ 32
fctd = αct fctk,0,05/γc EC2 cl 3.1.6(2), Equ 3.16
αct = 1.0 γc = 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 = αct fctk,0,05/γc = 1.8/1.5 = 1.2

fbd = 2.25 x 1.2 = 2.7 MPa

Basic anchorage length, lb,req

lb.req = (Ø/4) ( σsd/fbd) EC2 Equ 8.3

Max stress in the bar, σsd = fyk/γs = 500/1.15
= 435MPa.
lb.req = (Ø/4) ( 435/2.7)
= 40.3 Ø
For concrete class C25/30
Design anchorage length, lbd

lbd = α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 lb.req ≥ lb,min

lbd = α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 (40.3Ø) 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 = α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 lb.req ≥ lb,min
lbd = α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 (40.3Ø) For concrete class C25/30
a) Tension anchorage – straight bar
α1 = 1.0
α3 = 1.0 conservative value with K= 0
α4 = 1.0 N/A
α5 = 1.0 conservative value
α2 = 1.0 – 0.15 (cd – Ø)/Ø
α2 = 1.0 – 0.15 (25 – 16)/16 = 0.916
lbd = 0.916 x 40.3Ø = 36.9Ø = 590mm
Design anchorage length, lbd
lbd = α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 lb.req ≥ lb,min
lbd = α1 α2 α3 α4 α5 (40.3Ø) For concrete class C25/30
b) Tension anchorage – Other shape bars
α1 = 1.0 cd = 25 is ≤ 3 Ø = 3 x 16 = 48
α3 = 1.0 conservative value with K= 0
α4 = 1.0 N/A
α5 = 1.0 conservative value
α2 = 1.0 – 0.15 (cd – 3Ø)/Ø ≤ 1.0
α2 = 1.0 – 0.15 (25 – 48)/16 = 1.25 ≤ 1.0
lbd = 1.0 x 40.3Ø = 40.3Ø = 645mm
Worked example - summary

H16 Bars – Concrete class C25/30 – 25 Nominal cover

Tension anchorage – straight bar lbd = 36.9Ø = 590mm
Tension anchorage – Other shape bars lbd = 40.3Ø = 645mm
lbd is measured along the centreline of the bar
Compression anchorage (α1 = α2 = α3 = α4 = α5 = 1.0)
lbd = 40.3Ø = 645mm
Anchorage for ‘Poor’ bond conditions = ‘Good’/0.7
Lap length = anchorage length x α6
(number of bars lapped at section)
Anchorage & lap lengths
How to design concrete structures using Eurocode 2
Arrangement of Laps
EC2: Cl. 8.7.2

Laps between bars should normally be staggered and not located in regions
of high stress, the arrangement of lapped bars should comply with the
following:
The clear distance between lapped bars should not be greater than 4φ or
50 mm otherwise the lap length should be increased by a length equal to
the clear space where it exceeds 4Ø or 50 mm
1. The longitudinal distance between two adjacent laps should not be
less than 0,3 times the lap length, l0;
2. In case of adjacent laps, the clear distance between adjacent bars
should not be less than 2Ø or 20 mm.
When the provisions comply with the above, the permissible percentage of
lapped bars in tension may be 100% where the bars are all in one layer.
Where the bars are in several layers the percentage should be reduced to
50%.
All bars in compression and secondary (distribution) reinforcement may be
lapped in one section.
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 tanθ

F θ F
F tanθ

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 Ø ≥ 20mm or laps > 25%
• Where the diameter, φ, of the lapped bars ≥ 20 mm, the transverse
reinforcement should have a total area, ΣAst ≥ 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 φ 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.

ΣAst /2
ΣAst /2
l 0 /3
l 0 /3
≤150 mm F
Fs s

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 (φ) should be
held by transverse reinforcement with spacing ≤15 φ
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 reinforcement
EC2: Cl. 9.2.2

• Minimum shear reinforcement, ρw,min = (0,08√fck)/fyk

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

For vertical links sl,max = 0,75d

• Maximum transverse spacing, st,max = 0,75d ≤ 600 mm

Shear Design
EC2: Cl. 6.2.3

z d

x
s V

z d
θ

x
Curtailment of reinforcement
EC2: Cl. 9.2.1.3, Fig 9.2

Envelope of (M Ed /z +N Ed )
lbd
Acting tensile force lbd

Resisting tensile force lbd

∆Ftd
al

al
lbd
∆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 θ
But it is always conservative to use al = 1.125d
Supporting Reinforcement at
‘Indirect’ Supports
EC2: Cl. 9.2.5
B
A supporting beam with height h1
B supported beam with height h2 (h1 ≥ h2)
≤ h 2 /3
≤ h 2 /2

Plan view

• The supporting reinforcement is in ≤ h 1 /3

addition to that required for other A
reasons ≤ h 1 /2

• The supporting links may be placed in a zone beyond

the intersection of beams
Simplified Detailing Rules for
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
• φmin ≥ 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
≤ 150mm
EC2: Cl. 9.5.3

scl,tmax

≤ 150mm

• scl,tmax = min {20 φmin; 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 φ > 14.
A min of 3 bars is required in lap length
scl,tmax = min {12 φmin; 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
Ø ≤ 16mm with cover at least 2Ø.]
Detailing Comparisons

Beams EC2 BS 8110

Main Bars in Tension Clause / Values Values
As,min 9.2.1.1 (1): 0.26 fctm/fykbd ≥ 0.0013 bh
0.0013 bd
As,max 9.2.1.1 (3): 0.04 bd 0.04 bh
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
smin 8.2 (2): dg + 5 mm or φ or 20mm dg + 5 mm or φ
Smax Table 7.3N 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 15φ from main bar
Detailing Comparisons

Slabs EC2 BS 8110

Main Bars in Tension Clause / Values Values
As,min 9.2.1.1 (1): 0.26 fctm/fykbd ≥ 0.0013 bh
0.0013 bd
As,max 0.04 bd 0.04 bh
Secondary Transverse Bars
As,min 9.3.1.1 (2): 0.2As for single way 0.002 bh
slabs
As,max 9.2.1.1 (3): 0.04 bd 0.04 bh
Spacing of Bars
smin 8.2 (2): dg + 5 mm or φ or 20mm dg + 5 mm or φ
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): Link leg = 0.053 sr st Total = 0.4ud/0.87fyv
√(fck)/fyk
Spacing of Links
Sr 9.4.3 (1): 0.75d 0.75d
St 9.4.3 (1): 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): 0.04 bh 0.06 bh
Links
Min size 9.5.3 (1) 0.25φ or 6 mm 0.25φ or 6 mm
Scl,tmax 9.5.3 (3): min (12φmin; 0.6 b;240 mm) 12φ
9.5.3 (6): 150 mm from main bar 150 mm from main bar
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Detailing
Specification – NSCS, v4

1 Scope
2 Bibliography
3 Definitions
4 Execution Management
5 Falsework and Formwork
6 Reinforcement
7 Prestressed Concrete
8 In-situ Concrete - Finishes
9 Precast Concrete
10 Geometric Tolerances
www.eurocode2.info

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