Research Note
Research Note
RN-2011-1
Tensile Strength of Lap Splices
in Reinforced Concrete Members
Introduction
Current U.S. design provisions for lap splices
of deformed bars in tension were developed pri-
marily from tests conducted on beam specimens
with lap lengths less than or equal to 40 bar di-
ameters (db). But design provisions often require
splices to be longer than 40 bar diameters. Re-
cent structural failures have indicated the vulner-
ability of lap splices with splice length-to-bar-di-
ameter (ℓs /db) ratios equal to or exceeding 40.
In this study conducted at Purdue University,
the tensile strength of unconfined deformed-bar
lap splices with different lengths was re-exam-
ined. The focus was on lap splices with length-
to-bar-diameter ratios of 40 or more (ℓs /db ≥ 40).
The tensile strength of lap splices in configura-
tions resembling those observed to have splice
failures in the field was also examined.
Background
The tensile strength of lap splices of deformed
reinforcing bars in concrete has been studied ex-
tensively in the past (ACI 408, 2003). Recent fail-
ures of deformed-bar lap splices in Turkey (Kilic
and Sozen, 2003), Japan (Kim and Shiohara,
2012), and Chile (Song, et. al. 2012) have indi-
cated the need to revisit the topic. These failures
had three commonalities: 1) the splice lengths
were equal to or exceeded 40 bar diameters; 2)
the spliced bars were located in concrete sec-
tions entirely in tension (smoke stacks or chim-
neys) or concrete sections subjected to small ten-
sile strain gradients, such as structural walls; and
3) they occurred during earthquakes.
Current U.S. design provisions (ACI 318,
2011) for lap splices of deformed bars in tension
were developed primarily from static and mono-
tonic tests conducted on beams with lap lengths
not exceeding 40 bar diameters (Orangun, et. al.
1977). But code design provisions often require
splices to be longer than 40 bar diameters, as il-
lustrated in the previous examples. None of the
failures described in the previous examples had
the splices located in beams. In earthquakes,
splices near critical sections are likely to experi-
ence a stress equal to or exceeding their yield
stress.
The available data from tests conducted until
October 2001 on beams with lap splices of un-
coated, deformed reinforcing bars were compiled
by ACI Committee 408 (ACI 408, 2003). Until
2001, only 8 percent of the data came from tests
of lap splices with lengths equal to or exceeding
40 bar diameters. Only after 2006, a significant
amount of data from tests of longer splices has
been published (El-Hacha, et. al. 2006; Seliem
et. al. 2009). Today, to the best of the researchers’
knowledge, only 14 percent of the available data
comes from tests of splices with lengths equal
to or exceeding 40 bar diameters. This compiled
test data is presented in Figure 1.
As shown in Figure 1, maximum steel stress

developed (fsu) normalized by √fć in psi (where
fć is the concrete compressive strength in psi) is
plotted on the vertical axis and the splice length-
to-bar diameter (ℓs /db) ratio is plotted on the hori-
zontal axis. The available data from these refer-
enced tests met the following five criteria:
1. Bottom-cast; in other words, the depth of
concrete cast below bars did not exceed
12 in. [305 mm],
2. Minimum clear cover equal to or exceed-
ing 1 bar diameter (cmin ≥ 1db),
 3. Clear spacing between spliced bars equal to or
exceeding 2 bar diameters (csi ≥ db),
4. No transverse reinforcement was present (un-
confined), and
5. Compressive strength of concrete (fć) not ex-
ceeding 10,000 psi [69 MPa].
Without more data from tests of splices meeting these
criteria, it was difficult to confirm this conclusion. Thus,
the main objectives of this study were to contribute data
from tests of unconfined deformed-bar lap splices with
splice length-to-bar diameter ratios equal to or exceed-
ing 40, and to compare the strength of unconfined lap
splices of different lengths.

ACI 318 Design Provisions – The equation for de- Experimental Program
velopment length in Section 12.2.2 of the current U.S. Two series of tests were conducted at the Robert
design provisions (ACI 318, 2011) for #7 and larger bars L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil
is rearranged and simplified to Equation 1: Engineering Research, Purdue University in West La-

( )
 fayette, Indiana, to evaluate the tensile strength of de-

fsu = 20√fć ℓs
db
(1) formed-bar lap splices with lengths varying from 20 to 85
bar diameters. In Series 1 presented in Table 1, twenty-
seven (27) prismatic coupons were tested monotonically
Equation 1 was expected to provide a lower bound in tension to failure. In Series 2, fifteen (15) beams were
estimate to the maximum steel stress developed for the tested to failure; specimen information is presented in
data plotted in Figure 1. The provisions allow designers Table 2. The beam lap splices were located in a region
to increase this value by providing more concrete cov- of nearly constant bending moment. The tests are de-
er, adding transverse confinement reinforcement, or a scribed in greater detail in the research report (Richter,
combination of both. Figure 1 illustrates that, for the data 2012) and are summarized herein.
available until 2001, Equation 1 provided a reasonable
lower bound for splices meeting the five criteria listed
above. Only after 2006, data suggesting that Equation 1
was un-conservative became available.

Figure 1 – Available data from tests conducted on beams with lap splices of uncoated, uncon-
fined, deformed reinforcing bars (adapted from the ACI 408 database)

2 Tensile Strength of Lap Splices in Reinforced Concrete Members [RN-2011-01]

Table 1 – Selected properties and results from Series 1 prismatic coupons

Table 2 – Selected properties and results from Series 2 beams

CRSI Research Note 3

 Figure 3 Concrete Prism
Reinforcing Bar

Lap Splice

Figure 2 – Plan view of typical Series-1 prismatic coupon

cb
cso

Type A

Type C
Bottom

2csi
ct

Type B Type D Top

Figure 3 – Cross-sectional views of the Series-1 prismatic coupons. (Note the designations of “Top” and “Bottom” repre-
sent the bar position during concrete placement)

Test Series 1: Prismatic Coupons in Tension
Specimen Description – Each of the 27 specimens
had two lap splices of #8 bars cast in a rectangular con-
crete prism, as shown in Figure 2. Three splice lengths
were tested: 20db, 40db, and 60db. The reinforcing bars
extended past the ends of the concrete prisms to per-
mit load fixture attachment and were loaded in tension.
During testing, load was increased monotonically until
failure.
diameters. For Type D coupons, the side cover (cso) was
increased to 7.5db bar diameters, in addition to the top
cover (ct) and one-half the clear spacing between bars
(csi). Nominal cross-sectional dimensions of the speci-
mens are shown in Table 1 and Figure 3.
Grade 60, A706 bars (ASTM 2009) were used as the
main longitudinal reinforcement. Table 1 provides the
relevant material properties and the specimen naming
convention used.

Each test coupon had a minimum clear cover (cmin)
of 1.5db on at least one side. Type A coupons had all
three cover dimensions (cso, cb, and ct) and one-half the
clear spacing between bars (csi) equal to 1.5db. For Type
B coupons, the cover dimension cast above the spliced
bars (ct) was increased to 7.5db. For Type C coupons,
both the top cover dimension (ct) and one-half the clear
spacing between bars (csi) were increased to 7.5db bar
Test Program – The specimens in Series 1 were de-
signed to investigate the effect of increasing the cover
on one, two, and three sides of the splice, while keeping
the minimum bottom cover constant for different splice
lengths. By using tension coupons instead of beam
specimens, all three cover dimensions (cso, cb, and
one-half the clear spacing between bars (csi) were made
equal in Type A coupons, and varied for the other types.

4 Tensile Strength of Lap Splices in Reinforced Concrete Members [RN-2011-01]

 Stirrup
Clamps Hyd. Ram
Load Cell
Lap Splice
Tube

Support Roller
Pedestal
T T

Figure 4 – Elevation view of the typical Series-2 beam specimen test setup

3" 6" 3"

No transverse reinforcement was provided in the nearly
#11 constant moment region of the beams. Reinforcement
5"
was Grade 60, A615 bars (ASTM 2009). Table 2 pro-
vides the relevant material properties and the specimen
naming convention used.

During testing, two loading procedures were used.

In the first procedure, load was increased monotonical-
30" ly to failure. During the second loading procedure, the
loading was incrementally stopped after pre-selected
24-1/4" loads were reached (Richter, 2012). Once these loads
were achieved, the load application was stopped, and
the specimen was unloaded. The specimen was then
reloaded monotonically until failure. Table 2 indicates
which loading procedure was used for each specimen.
The first loading procedure is referred to as “monotonic”
in Table 2, and the second loading procedure is “reload-
17-5/8" ed.”

Figure 5 – Typical Series-2 beam cross section

Test Program – The specimens in Series 2 were de-
signed to study the difference in behavior of lap splices
with different lengths using a traditional beam-type spec-
imen.

The Series-1 specimens were also designed to examine Results

the tensile strength of lap splices located in regions with
small strain gradients.
Test Series 2: Rectangular Beams
Specimen Description – There were fifteen (15)
traditional beam specimens in the Series 2 tests, pre-
sented in Table 2. Three splice lengths were tested in the
beams: 28db, 56db, and 85db. Each of the fifteen beams
was loaded in a four-point bending loading arrangement,
as shown in Figure 4. Lap splices were located between
supports in the region of nearly constant bending mo-
ment.
The beams had rectangular cross sections, as illus-
trated in Figure 5. Longitudinal tension reinforcement
consisted of two #11 bars. The minimum clear cover
(cmin) was 3 in. [76 mm], which corresponds to 2⅛db.
Strength of Prismatic Coupons in Tension – Fig-
ure 6 shows the average splice strengths (average maxi-

mum steel stress developed normalized by √fć ) for each
splice length vs. the number of cover dimensions cso, cb,
ct, or csi (where half the clear bar spacing is considered
as a fourth cover dimension) set equal to the minimum
cover of 1.5db bar diameters. Figure 6 illustrates that the
splice strength was reduced as an increasing number
of the cover dimensions were set equal to the minimum
cover.
Effect of Splice Length on Splice Strength – The
average splice strength is plotted against the ratio of
splice length-to-bar diameter in Figure 7. The data are
presented for each prismatic coupon type and splice
length in Series 1, and for each splice length in Series 2.
Figure 7 illustrates that the splice strength does increase

CRSI Research Note 5

 Figure 6 – Average splice strength vs. number of cover dimensions equal to 1.5db for the Series-1 tests (refer-
ence Figure 3)

Figure 7 – Splice strength vs. splice length-to-bar diameter ratio (ls / db) for the Series-1 and -2 test specimens

6 Tensile Strength of Lap Splices in Reinforced Concrete Members [RN-2011-01]

with an increase in the splice length-to-bar diameter ra-
tio. But the strength does not increase proportionally to
the ratio of splice length-to-bar diameter, thus indicating
a decrease in splice efficiency. The decrease in splice
efficiency is more noticeable at lap lengths exceeding
approximately 45db.
Comparison with Previous Tests of Deformed Bar
Lap Splices – The data from the Series 1 prismatic cou-
pons and Series 2 beams are plotted with the available
ACI 408 data described previously in Figure 1. Figure 1
illustrates the following:
1. Splice strengths reached in the Series 1 and Se-
ries 2 tests with splice length-to-bar diameter (ℓs /
db) ratios between 20 and 60 fall within the scat-
ter of splice strengths reached in previous tests of
lap splices with similar lap lengths, and
2. Equation 1 can be un-conservative for splice
lengths exceeding approximately 45 bar diame-
ters. It is recommended that the steel stress pre-

dicted by Equation 1 be capped at 900√fć .
Bond Stress Distribution over the Lap Splice
Length – Bond stress distributions were inferred from
concrete surface strains measured along the length of
the lap splices in the Series-2 beams. The inferred distri-
butions illustrated that bond stresses were concentrated
near the ends of each splice. In the center portion of
each splice, the bond stresses were smaller.
The widths of bursting cracks in the plane of the lon-
gitudinal reinforcement also indicated the relative mag-
nitude of bond stresses throughout the length of each
lap splice. Crack width measurements made during the
beam tests showed that transverse crack widths due to
bursting were wider at the ends of each splice. Through-
out the center portion of each splice, the crack widths
were generally narrower.
The observation that unit bond stresses are not dis-
tributed uniformly throughout the length of lap splices in
beams helps to explain the reduction in splice efficiency
with an increase in splice length; this was clearly evident
in the tests in this study. A comparison of the longitudinal
concrete surface strain measurements and measure-
ments of transverse crack widths from bursting made in
the beam tests for different splice lengths showed the
following trends:
• The length at the end of each splice having a con-
centration of high bond forces remained nearly
constant for each overall splice length, and
• The length of the center portion of each splice
with relatively small bond stress increased as the
splice length increased.
These observations indicate a majority of the load
transfer in a spliced bar occurs near the ends of the two
bars being spliced. The non-uniform distribution of steel
stress, which became more pronounced in longer splice
lengths, resulted in less efficient splices.
Conclusions and Recommendations
1) The Series 1 tests of prismatic coupons with ten-
sion lap splices indicated that mean unit bond
strength decreased as an increasing number of
the side cover dimensions were set equal to the
minimum cover of 1.5 bar diameters (1.5db). For
reference, the cover dimensions cso, cb, and ct
are shown in Figure 3.
2) The results in this study indicated that increas-
ing the length of an unconfined lap splice beyond
approximately 45 bar diameters (45db) was an
inefficient way to increase the splice strength.
This inefficiency results from a non-uniform bond
stress distribution along the lap splice length,
which is concentrated at the splice ends.
3) For deformed-bar lap splices meeting the five cri-
teria addressed earlier, that is: 1) bottom-cast, 2)
clear cover equal to or exceeding 1db, 3) clear
spacing between spliced bars equal to or exceed-
ing 2db, 4) no transverse reinforcement (uncon-
fined), and 5) compressive strength of concrete
not exceeding 10,000 psi [69 MPa], Equation 2
below provides a conservative estimate of the
steel stress that can be developed:

( ) 
fsu = 20√fć ℓs ≤ 900 √fć
db
(2)
Equation 2 is similar to the expression in Section
12.2.2 of the ACI 318-11 design provisions for #7 and
larger bars, except Equation 2 now includes an upper

limit of 900√fć (in psi) for the maximum steel stress that
can be developed. According to Equation 2, increasing
the lap splice length beyond 45db does not increase the

splice strength. If a steel stress exceeding 900√fć (in psi)
is required, it is recommended the lap splice be moved
away from any critical sections or transverse reinforce-
ment be provided to confine the splice region.
Acknowledgements
This research was conducted by Purdue University
with the sponsorship of the Concrete Reinforcing Steel
Institute (CRSI) and the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST). Reinforcing steel used in this
work was generously provided by ERICO International
Corporation.
CRSI Research Note 7
References
American Concrete Institute – ACI Committee
318 (2011), Building Code Requirements for Structural
Concrete (ACI 318-11) and Commentary (ACI 318R-11),
Farmington Hills, Michigan, 503 pp.
American Concrete Institute – ACI Committee 408
(2003), Bond and Development of Straight Reinforcing
Bars in Tension (ACI 408-R03), Farmington Hills, Michi-
gan, 49 pp.
ASTM International – ASTM A615 (2009), Standard
Specification for Deformed and Plain Carbon-Steel Bars
for Concrete Reinforcement, ASTM A615 / A615M – 09b,
ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylva-
nia, 6 pp.
ASTM International – ASTM A706 (2009), Standard
Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Deformed and Plain
Bars for Concrete Reinforcement, ASTM A706 / A706M
– 09b, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Penn-
sylvania, 6 pp.
El-Hacha, R., El-Agroudy, H., Rizkalla, S.M. (2006),
“Bond Characteristics of High-Strength Steel Reinforce-
ment,” ACI Structural Journal, 103(6), pp. 771-782.
Kim, S., and Shiohara, H. (2012), “Dynamic Re-
sponse Analysis of a Tall RC Chimney Damaged during
2007 Niigata-ken Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake,” Proceed-
ings of the Fifteenth World Conference on Earthquake
Engineering, Paper No. 3433.
Orangun, C.O.; Jirsa, J.O.; and Breen, J.E. (1977),
“A Reevaluation of Test Data on Development Length
and Splices,” ACI Journal, Proceedings (74) 3, pp. 114-
122.
Richter, B.P. (2012), “A New Perspective on the
Tensile Strength of Lap Splices in Reinforced Concrete
Members,” MS Thesis, Purdue University, West Lafay-
ette, Indiana, 165 pp.
Seliem, H.M.; Hosny, A.; Rizkalla, S.; Zia, P.; Briggs,
M.; Miller, S.; Darwin, D.; Browning, J.; Glass, G.M.;
Hoyt, K.; Donnelly, K.; and Jirsa, J.O. (2009), “Bond
Characteristics of ASTM A1025 Steel Reinforcing Bars,”
ACI Structural Journal, 106 (4), pp. 530-539.
Song, C., Pujol, S., Lepage, A. (2012), “The Col-
lapse of the Alto Rio Building during the 27 February
2010 Maule, Chile, Earthquake,” Earthquake Spectra,
28 (S1), pp. S301-S334.

Kilic, S., and Sozen, M.A. (2003), “Evaluation of Ef-

fect of August 17, 1999, Marmara Earthquake on Two
Tall Reinforced Concrete Chimneys,” ACI Structural
Journal, 100(3), pp. 357-364.

Contributors: The principal authors on this publication are Brian P. Richter and Santiago Pujol,
Ph.D., of Purdue University. This document represents a summary of their CRSI research project
on the subject topic; the final report should be referenced for more information on the research.

Keywords: Bond, development length, deformed bar, lap splice, reinforcement, reinforced concrete.

Reference: Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute - CRSI [2014], “Tensile Strength of Lap Splices in
933 North Plum Grove Rd.
Reinforced Concrete Members,” CRSI Research Note RN 2011-1, Schaumburg, Illinois, 8 pp.
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4758
Note: This publication is intended for the use of professionals competent to evaluate the signifi- p. 847-517-1200 • f. 847-517-1206
cance and limitations of its contents and who will accept responsibility for the application of the www.crsi.org
material it contains. The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute reports the foregoing material as
a matter of information and, therefore, disclaims any and all responsibility for application of the Regional Offices Nationwide
stated principles or for the accuracy of the sources other than material developed by the Institute. A Service of the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute
©2014 This publication, or any part thereof, may not be
The opinions and findings expressed in this Research Note are those of the researchers and do not
reproduced without the expressed written consent of CRSI.
necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute.

Printed in the U.S.A.