DETAILING OF REINFORCEMENT

Introduction 
 Till now design of Beams and Slabs for bending, shear and bond have been
discussed.
 There are certain rules and guidelines regarding detailing of reinforcement.
 An elaborate analysis becomes worthless, if design calculations, are
represented by poorly detailed drawings.
 Detailing is a process of evolution based on an understanding of the structural
behaviour and material properties.
 Detailing Process refers to the determination of
 the number,
 size,
 layout and
 location of reinforcement, given the element dimensions and Area of Steel
required.
 While certain details such as Lap and development lengths, Hook
requirements, cut-off points etc. are covered by the code, the logic in many
solution has to be developed individually by the designer on the basis of sound
engineering judgment.
 These details ensures
 The construction of each member can be properly achieved,
 That the reinforcement may behave as designed and
 The structure may not become unworthy in appearance due to excessive
cracking.
Requirements of Good Detailing
 A good detailing must fulfil the following requirements: 
1 Reinforcement detailing should be simple for fabrication and placing.
2 The crack widths must be within acceptable limits under service conditions.
 Moreover, there should not be any free path for propagation of cracks without being
traversed by reinforcement.
 This is achieved by limiting, the maximum spacing of reinforcement and minimum
amount of reinforcement.
3 There should be sufficient space for concrete to be properly poured and compacted.
This is achieved by limiting the minimum spacing between bars, and thus, avoiding
congestion of reinforcement.
4 The detailing should be such that the internal forces are safely transferred from one
member to another, and from reinforcement to concrete. Joints and discontinuities
should be capable of withstanding the same forces as the adjoining sections. This is
achieved by placing the reinforcement in the direction of the tensile force as far as
possible. Due care should be given to splicing of reinforcement and development length.
5 Internal forces are generated whenever a member is not straight or its
dimensions are abruptly changed. Detailing should take care of such
situations.
6 The structural drawings should be complete, crystal clear and unambiguous.
Bar bending schedules and necessary instructions to the site engineers must
be clearly indicated on the drawings.
Recommended Drawing Scales

Surveys
1 : 1000 or 1 : 1500
Building Sites
Site Layouts
1 : 100 or 1 : 50
General Arrangements
Outlines
1 : 100 or 1 : 50
Wall and Slabs
1 : 20
Beams and Column
elevation

Reinforcement Details
1 : 50
Simple Wall Slab details
1 : 20 or 1 : 10
Beam and Column
Sections
Beam and Column 1 : 20
elevations

Large Scale Details

1 : 5 or 1 : 2 or 1 : 1
For Extra Clarity
NOMINAL COVER TO REINFORCEMENT
  A reinforcing bar must be surrounded by concrete for the following reasons:
 1 To develop the desired strength of a bar by ensuring proper bond
between concrete and steel throughout its perimeter
2 To provide protection to steel from corrosion and fire
 Nominal cover is the design thickness of concrete cover to all steel
reinforcements including shear stirrups or column ties.
 It is the dimension used in design and indicated on the drawings.
 Table 16 and 16A of IS 456 – 2000 gives the clear cover to main steel for
durability and fire criteria respectively.
 However, the following four points must be kept in view
(1) For main reinforcement, upto 12 mm diameter bar, for mild exposure,
the nominal cover may be reduced by 5 mm.
(2) For Longitudinal bars in a column, the nominal cover, must not be less
than 40 mm, nor less than the diameter of the bar.
(3) For Footings, minimum cover shall be 50 mm
(4) In case of columns of minimum dimensions of 200 mm or under, whose
reinforcing bars do not exceed 12 mm, a cover of 25 mm may be used.
SPACING OF REINFORCEMENT 

Minimum Distance Between Individual Bars in a Cross Section 

As per Clause 26.3.2 Page 45 of IS 456 – 2000
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE
I The minimum horizontal distance between two
parallel main reinforcing bars should not be less Horizontal
than the greatest of the following Distance
(a) The diameter of the bar if the diameters are
equal Vertical
(b) The diameter of the larger bar if the Distance
diameters are unequal.
(c) 5 mm more than the nominal maximum size of Coarse aggregate
II Greater Horizontal distance then the minimum specified in (a) above should
be provided wherever possible. However when needle vibrators are used the
horizontal distance between bars of a group may be reduced to 2/3rd the
nominal maximum size of aggregate, provided that sufficient space is left
between groups of bars to enable the vibrator to be immersed in concrete.
VERTICAL DISTANCE
 When there are two or more rows of bars, then the minimum vertical distance
between the bars shall be
(a) 15 mm
(b) Maximum size of bar
(c) Two-third the nominal maximum size of aggregate

Maximum Distance Between Bars in Tension [Clause 26.3.3 Page 46: IS 456 – 2000]
 
 The Maximum distance between bars is restricted in order to control cracking
of concrete which depends upon the stress in the reinforcing bars and the
distance between them.
 Unless the calculations of crack width shows that a greater spacing is
acceptable, the following rules shall be applied to flexural members in normal
internal or external conditions of exposure.
(a) Beams:
  The horizontal distance between parallel reinforcement bars or groups, near
the tension face of the beam shall not be greater than the value given in the
following table depending on the amount of redistribution of moment carried
out in analysis and the characteristic strength of the reinforcement.
 Percentage Redistribution to or from Section Considered

fy  30  15 0 + 15 +30
N/mm2 Clear Distance Between Bars (mm)

250 215 260 300 300 300

415 125 155 180 210 235
500 105 130 150 175 195

Slabs
i) The Horizontal distance between parallel main reinforcement bars shall not
be more than three times the Effective Depth of Slab i.e (S < 3d) or 300 mm
whichever is smaller.
ii) The Horizontal Distance between Parallel Reinforcement bars provided
against Shrinkage and Temperature shall not be more than Five Times the
Effective Depth of the solid Slab or 450 mm whichever is smaller.
Tolerances on Placing of Reinforcement [Clause 12.3.1 of IS 456 – 2000 Page 26 ]
 Unless otherwise specified by engineer-in-charge, the reinforcement shall be
placed within the following tolerances.
(a) For Effective depth 200 mm or less  10 mm
(b) For Effective depth more than 200 mm  15n mm

  REINFORCEMENT REQUIREMENTS
BEAMS
(a) Minimum Reinforcement : : [ As per Clause 26.5.1.1; pp. 46; of IS 456 - 2000 ]
The minimum area of tension reinforcement should not be less than that given by
the following :

(b) Maximum Reinforcement :

• The maximum area of tension reinforcement should not exceed 4% of the
Gross Cross-Sectional area of beam to avoid difficulty in placing and
compacting concrete properly in the formwork i.e.
ASM  0.04 b D
Maximum Spacing of Shear Reinforcement [Clause 26.5.1.5 Page 47]
 The Maximum spacing of Shear Reinforcement measured along the axis of the
member shall not exceed 0.75d for vertical stirrups and d for inclined stirrups
at 45, where d is the effective depth of the section under consideration.
 In no case shall the spacing exceed 300 mm,
Minimum Spacing of Stirrups
 Minimum Spacing of Stirrups is limited to 100 mm in order to permit space
for proper compaction of concrete.
SLABS
 Certain Minimum Reinforcement is provided in slabs to prevent excessive
local curvature and to provide some resistance to Shear Force
 The Minimum Reinforcement in either direction in Slabs should not be less
than 0.15% of the total cross-sectional area when using Mild Steel Bars
 And should not be less than 0.12% of the total cross-sectional area when
using HYSD bars.
 The maximum Diameter of reinforcing bars should not exceed One-Eighth of
the total thickness of the slab.
Problem:- A beam with overall depth of 500 mm and a width of 250 mm is
reinforced with 4 – 20 mm diameter and 2 – 25 mm diameter bars in tension zone
and 2 – 16 mm diameter bars in compression zone. Decide the cover for 2 hours
fire resistance rating and severe conditions of exposure. Using suitable clauses of
IS 456 – 2000 and with the help of a neat sketch show in section the following:

(i) Nominal Cover

(ii) Clear Cover

(iii) Effective Cover

(iv) Placement of tension and compression steel

(v) Anchorage of stirrups

Use 8 mm diameter bars as stirrups
Solution:-

Cover
 The Nominal Cover for 2 hr. fire resistance rating and Severe Exposure is [Table
16 and 16A Page 47 IS 456-2000]
Nominal Cover = 45 mm (For Severe Exposure)
= 40 mm ( For 2 hr fire resistance)
Hence, Adopt
Nominal Cover = 45 mm
Now,
Diameter of Stirrups = 8 mm
Clear Cover = 45 + 8 = 53 mm

Clear Cover = 53 mm

Effective Cover = 53 + ½ [ Dia of larger bars ]

= 53 + ½ × 25
 Effective Cover = 65.5 mm

Reinforcement Details

(a) If all the Reinforcement is placed in a single row.

(b) Let the maximum size of Coarse Aggregate be 20 mm

Now,

The Horizontal Distance Between Bars

(i) Diameter of Larger Bars = 25 mm

(ii) 5 mm more than the maximum size of Coarse Aggregate

Hence,

Clear Horizontal distance between bars = 25 mm

Space Covered by Bars (including the spacing between bars)

(i) Total Distance between bars = 5 × 25 = 125 mm

(ii) Space Covered by 20 mm bars = 4 × 20 = 80 mm
(iii) Space Covered by 25 mm bars = 2 × 25 = 50 mm
Total Horizontal Distance covered by bars = 255 mm

Still Cover is to be adjusted within a width of 250 mm.

Hence a single row of reinforcing bars is not possible

Hence,
Provide 2 Layers
In Layer 1 provide 2 – 25  bars and 2 – 20  bars
In Layer 2 provide 2 – 20  bars
Space Covered by Bars is 1st Row (including the spacing between bars)

(i) Total Distance between bars= 3 × 25 = 75 mm

(ii) Space Covered by 20 mm bars = 2 × 20 = 40 mm
(iii) Space Covered by 25 mm bars = 2 × 25 = 50 mm
Total Horizontal Distance covered by bars= 165 mm
Space left for Cover = 250 ˗ [165 + 8 + 8 ] 8 mm is the dia of stirrups
= 69 mm
Now,
 The required cover as per IS 456 – 2000 is 45 mm on each side i.e. 90 mm
 But the space available with the above placement of reinforcement is only
69 mm, hence this arrangement is also not possible.
So,
Now Provide
In Layer 1 provide 4 – 20  bars
In Layer 2 provide 2 – 25  bars
Space Covered by Bars is 1st Row (including the spacing between bars)

(i) Total Distance between bars = 3 × 20 = 60 mm

(ii) Space Covered by bars in Row 1 = 4 × 20 = 80 mm
Total Horizontal Distance covered by bars = 140 mm
 
Space left for Cover = 250 ˗ [140 + 8 + 8 ] 8 mm is the dia of stirrups
= 94 mm
The required cover as per IS 456 – 2000 is 45 mm on each side i.e. 90 mm
The space available with the above placement of reinforcement is 94 mm
Hence OK 
Vertical Spacing

Vertical Spacing = 25 mm
OR = 15 mm
Final Cover
Now since the bottom row consist of 20 mm tension steel
Effective Cover = 53 + ½ × 20
= 63 mm
And
Centre to Centre Spacing between 20 mm tension bars in bottom layer is
C/C Spacing = 25 + ½ × 20 + ½ × 20
= 45 mm
Nominal Cover Effective Cover

Clear Cover