STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG.

ANAS DAWAS)

Bar Cut Off

- For economy, some of the bars can be - The critical sections for development of
terminated or cut off where they are no longer reinforcement in flexural members are :
needed. • At points of maximum stress
- bar cut offs should be kept to a minimum to • At points where tension bars within the
simplify design and construction span are terminated or bent
- firstly , we have to find theoretical cut off points • At the face of the support
then these points must be modified for shear, • At points of inflection at which
development, and constructional requirements moment changes signs
to get the actual cut-off points used in - Some times we shall decrease moment
construction. capacity for members if we can not match
- At any section area of steel shall not be less than with development length requirements
minimum steel ratio in ACI code .
- longitudinal tension bars be extended a
minimum distance equal to the greater of d or 12
bar diameters past the theoretical cut-off point for
flexure. This accounts for the shift due to shear, plus
contingencies arising from unexpected loads,
yielding of supports, shifting of points of inflection
or other lack of agreement with assumed conditions
governing the design of elastic structures [8-12

- If not satisfied , bar diameter shall be

modified
STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG. ANAS DAWAS)

Example : the beam in the figure has two No.43 bars and No.10 U stirrups at 250 mm , the normal
weight concrete has w compressive strength fc = 27.5 mpa , and reinforcing steel has a yield strength
fy = 413.5 mpa . The beam support total factored load of 130 Kn/m.
check ACI code

1) Calculate development length : 3)

Bar spacing = 400 -2(50)-2(10)-2(43) =194

mm , spacing > 2db , cover > db In case of not satisfying this requirement we
have to change diameter for this beam and
√ recheck again .

2) Calculate nominal strength for continuous

bars and shear force at support :

( )( )( )
, ( )( )( )
( )( )( )

Embedded length at support for this case is 15

cm .
STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG. ANAS DAWAS)

Structural Integrity and Continuity Requirements

- The structural-integrity requirements are
supplemental to the continuity requirements
discussed previously and were added to better
tie the structural members together in a floor
system and to provide some resistance to
progressive collapse.

- The structural-integrity requirements in ACI

Code Section 7.13 can be divided into
requirements for joists, perimeter beams, and
interior beams framing into columns.
STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG. ANAS DAWAS)

Example , the beam shown in fig. is constructed of normal weight , 21 mpa concrete and grade 60
reinforcement (414 mpa) . It supports a factored dead load of 6 Kn/m and factored live load 50 Kn/m .
the cross section at the points of maximum positive and negative moments , given in another figures .

1) Calculate maximum positive & negative moment

by studying different load cases .
STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG. ANAS DAWAS)

2) Locate flexural cut off for positive moment

reinforcement (loading case 1 )

( )( )

( ) ( )

3) Calculate development length for bottom bars :

[ ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )]

( )

( )( )( )
( )√

4) Locate actual cut off points for positive moment
reinforcement
a) Cut off “F”
- Extension of bars into support :
 1/3 As(positive) reinforcement must
continue inside support but not less than
2 bars (OK) so 2Y29 bars must extend
inside support 15 cm
- Effect of shear :
 Extend bars beyond theoretical cut off
points not less than d , 12db so extend d
= 53.7 cm
- Check anchorage :
 The distance from maximum point of
stress to actual bar cut off =

Ld(Y25) = 1327 mm so 2780 >Ld (OK)

b) Cut off “G’”:
- Extension of bars into support :
 1/3 As(positive) reinforcement must
continue inside support but not less than
2 bars (OK) so 2Y29 bars must extend
inside support 15 cm at point “G”
- Effect of shear :
 We don’t need to extend bars because
cut off is at support .
- Check anchorage :
 The distance from actual cut off point
STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG. ANAS DAWAS)

“F’” to “G” is 1280 mm and this distance

must not be less than Ld so extend “G” to
“G’” to satisfy development length 1540
mm .
- Check anchorage at point of inflection :
 Point of inflection is at zero moment so

Vu at zero moment = 206 Kn

Mn for continuous bars =

( )

( )

c) Cut off “E”

- Effect of shear
 bar to be extended 537 mm beyond cut
off points
- Check anchorage
 Distance from maximum stress to E’ is
2850 mm > Ld (1327 mm ) so its OK

d) Cut off “D”

- Extension of bars into support :
 1/3 As(positive) reinforcement must
continue inside support but not less than
2 bars (OK) so 2Y29 bars must extend
inside support 15 cm at point “D”
- Effect of shear :
 We don’t need to extend bars because
cut off is at support .
- Check anchorage :
 The distance from actual cut off point
“E’” to “D” is 1000 mm and this distance
is not enough to satisfy development
length 1540 mm so there is many
solutions :
1- Extend end of beam
2- Hook end of bars
3- Use smaller bar
4- Eliminate cut off at E’ (we will use
this one )
So extend all four bars past support
A as shown .
- Check anchorage at point of inflection :
STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG. ANAS DAWAS)

 Point of inflection is at zero moment so

Vu at zero moment = 206 Kn
( )

( )( )( )

( )

( )

5) Locate actual cut off points for negative

moment reinforcement

{
Over support at B reinforcement is 2Y25+2Y29
we will cut 2Y25 when
Between A&B
Between C&B (same procdure) so

6) Find development length for top reinforcement ( )

{
( )
7) Locate the actual cutoff points for negative e) Cut off “J”:
moment reinforcement - 2Y25 will be cut
- Effect of shear
 Extend bars 537 mm past theoretical
cutoff points (J-J’) .
- Check anchorage :
 Extend bars Ld distance from maximum
point of stress so exact distance is 2660
which is greater than Ld=1725 mm (OK)

f) Cut off “H”:

- 2Y29 cutoff
- Effect of shear
 No need (support)
- Check anchorage :
 Extend bars Ld distance from J’ (OK)
STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG. ANAS DAWAS)

g) Cut off “K”:

- 2Y25 cutoff
- Effect of shear
 Extend d=537 mm (K-K’)
- Check anchorage :
 Extend bars Ld distance from maximum
point of stress so exact distance is 1240
which is smaller than Ld=1725 mm (not
OK) so extend bars up to 1730 mm
length to meet development length
requirement .(K’-K’’)

h) Cut off “L”:

- 2Y29 cutoff
- Effect of shear
 No need
- Check anchorage :
 Extend bars Ld distance from K’’ , notice
that this distance (1880 mm) is not
enough to meet (Ld = 2002 mm ) so
many solutions :
1) Extend all bars to the end beam (this
one will be used)
2) Change bar diameter to be smaller

8) Check weather extra stirrups are required at

cutoff

( )
( √ )

( √ )

⇒
if Vu at actual cutoff point exceed 126 Kn , we will
need to modify the design for the stirrups to
increase Vs

At cutoff (F’) At cutoff ( J’)

( ) ( ) The procedure same like cutoff F’ but if
we assumed that this requirement is
satisfied so no more stirrups required
STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG. ANAS DAWAS)

( )=224 Kn

For simplicity use Y10/15 cm from support as shown.

How we can simplify these calculation ?!

- Extend all bars to end points of beam so no
cutoff points ( more reinforcement required)
- Use graphical solution (page 416 MacGregor
book )
Standard Cut-Off Points (Beams & One way slab)
- Two or more spans
- Uniform loading
- Roughly equal spans
- Factored LL < 3 x Factored DL
- For beams : span/depth is more than 10
- For slab : span/depth is more than 18
- Do not apply to beams framing part of primary
lateral load resisting system
STRUCTURAL – INTEGRITY AND BAR CUT OFF REQUIREMENTS (ENG. ANAS DAWAS)