232 STRUCTURAL CONCRETE BUILDING CODE (ACI 318-11) AND COMMENTARY
CODE
(a) the area of reinforcement provided is at least
twice that required by analysis over the entire length
of the splice; and
(b) one-half or less of the total reinforcement is
spliced within the required lap length.
12.15.3 — When bars of different size are lap spliced
in tension, splice length shall be the larger of ld of
larger bar and tension lap splice length of smaller bar.
12.15.4 — Mechanical or welded splices used where
area of reinforcement provided is less than twice that
required by analysis shall meet requirements of
12.14.3.2 or 12.14.3.4.
12.15.5 — Mechanical or welded splices not meeting
the requirements of 12.14.3.2 or 12.14.3.4 shall be
permitted for No. 5 bars and smaller if the require-
ments of 12.15.5.1 through 12.15.5.3 are met:
12.15.5.1 — Splices shall be staggered at least 24 in.
12.15.5.2 — In computing the tensile forces that can
be developed at each section, the spliced reinforce-
ment stress shall be taken as the specified splice
strength, but not greater than fy . The stress in the
unspliced reinforcement shall be taken as fy times the
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COMMENTARY
Fig. R12.15.1—Clear spacing of spliced bars.
TABLE R12.15.2 — TENSION LAP SPLICES
Maximum percent of As spliced within
A s provided* required lap length
---------------------------------
A s required 50 100
Equal to or greater than 2 Class A Class B
Less than 2 Class B Class B
*
Ratio of area of reinforcement provided to area of reinforcement required by analysis at
splice locations.
R12.15.4 — A mechanical or welded splice should develop
at least 125 percent of the specified yield strength when
located in regions of high tensile stress in the reinforcement.
Such splices need not be staggered, although such staggering
is encouraged where the area of reinforcement provided is
less than twice that required by the analysis.
R12.15.5 — See R12.14.3.5. Section 12.15.5 concerns the
situation where mechanical or welded splices of strength less
than 125 percent of the specified yield strength of the
reinforcement may be used. It provides a relaxation in the
splice requirements where the splices are staggered and
excess reinforcement area is available. The criterion of twice
the computed tensile force is used to cover sections
containing partial tensile splices with various percentages of
total continuous steel. The usual partial tensile splice is a flare
groove weld between bars or bar and structural steel piece.