IMPORTANCE OF DETAILING OF TRANSVERSE REINFORCEMENT FOR

BEAMS,COLUMNS AND WALLS

The detailing of reinforcement is as important as the analysis and design of any

RCC members. Specially it is true in the design of structures against the
SEISMIC forces. The most and very important aspect of detailing is well
documented in the text book on “SEISMIC DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE
AND MASONRY BUILDINGS by T.Paulay and M.J.N.Priestley. The text extraction
is given below for the structural engineers who need to know more about the
importance of the above issue.

Page: 157:
The spacing of the transverse reinforcement is as important as the quantity to be
provided. For this reason, recommended maximum spacings of sets of transverse
ties along a member, required for four specific purposes, are summarized here.
1. To provide shear resistance: Except as set out in section 3.3.2(a)(vii):
In beams s≤0.5d or 600mm(24”)
In columns s≤0.75h or 600mm(24”)
In walls s≤2.5bw or 450mm(18”)
2. To stabilize compression bars in plastic Regions: As described in section
4.5.4 for beams, but also applicable to bars with diameters db in columns
and walls[ Section 5.4(e)]:
s≤6.0db, or s≤d/4, s≤ 150mm(6”)
3. To provide confinement of compressed concrete in potential plastic
regions: As described in sections 3.6.1(a),4.6.1(e)M AND 5.4.3(E).

sh≤ bc/3 , sh ≤ hc/3 , sh ≤6 db, sh≤180mm(7”).

4. At Lapped splice : As described in Section 3.6.29B),4.6.10 and 4.6.11(f)
for the end regions of columns where plastic hinges are not expected to
occur:
s≤8.0db, s≤200mm(8”).

Page:208:
The diameter of stirrup ties should not be less than 6mm(0.25”) and the area of
one leg of stirrup tie in the direction of potential buckling of longitudinal bars
should not be less than
Ate=∑ Ab fy s
_____________(Mpa)
16 fyt 100
For design purpose it is convenient to rearrange the above equation in the form:
Ate/s = ∑ Ab fy /1600 fyt (mm^2/mm)
Where Ab is the sum of the areas of the longitudinal bars reliant on
the tie, including the tributary area of any bars exempted from being
tied in accordance
with the proceding section.
Ate is the area of the stirrup tie in mm^2.
fy is the yield strength of longitudinal bars.
fyt is the yield strength of tie bars

Page 128:
Because of the reversal of shear forces in members affected by earthquakes, the
Ө
placing of stirrups at an angle other than 90 to the axis of such members is
generally impractical.
Ө
The choice of the angle 45 for the plane of the diagonal tension failure in the
region of potential plastic is a compromise.
Please note that in IS 13920 it is not recommended to use single bent up bars.

Minimum shear reinforcement:

Current codes (NewZeland) require the provision of minimum amount of shear
reinforcement in the range of 0.0015 ≤Av/bwsC0.0020 in members affected by
earthquake forces.
ii) Spacing of stirrups: To ensure that potential diagonal tension failure planes
are crossed by sufficient sets of stirrups, spacing limitations such as set out
below, have been widely used. The spacing s should not exceed:
1. In beams:
In general :0.5d or 600mm(24”)
When (vi-vc) > 0.07 f’c: 0.25d or 300mm(12”).
2. In columns:
When Pu/Ag≤0.12 f’c; as in beams
When Pu/Ag > 0.12 f c: 0.75’ or 800mm(24”).
’

3. In walls,

2.5 times the wall thickness or 450mm(18”).

Spacing limitations to satisfy requirements for the confinement of compressed concrete and the

stabilizing of compression bars in potential plastic hinge regions are likely to be more restrictive.

Page:233:

4.611. Design of transverse Reinforcement:

(a) General considerations: There are four design requirements that control the amount of

transverse reinforcement to be provided in COLUMNS:

1. Shear strength;

2. Prevention of buckling of compression bars;

3. Confinement of compressed concrete in potential plastic hinge regions or over the full

length of column subjected to very large compression stresses and;

4. The strength of lapped bar splices.