Side Bar BS Code - Mac Ginley Choo
Side Bar BS Code - Mac Ginley Choo
Side Bar BS Code - Mac Ginley Choo
1. in normal cases a set of rules for limiting the maximum bar spacing in the tension
zone of members
2. in special cases use of a formula given in BS8110: Part 2, section 3.8, for assessing
the design crack width
1. Bars of diameter less than 0.45 of the largest bar in the section should be ignored
except when considering bars in the side faces of beams.
2. The clear horizontal distance S1 between bars or groups near the tension face of a
beam should not be greater than the values given in Table 3.30 of the code which
are given by the expression (Fig. 6.16)
Fig. 6.16
where
3. As an alternative the clear spacing between bars can be found from the expression
where fs is the service stress estimated from equation 8 in BS8110: Part 1, Table
3.11 (section 6.1.2(b) above).
4. The clear distance s2 from the corner of a beam to the surface of the nearest
horizontal bar should not exceed one-half of the values given in BS8110: Part 1,
Table 3.20.
5. If the overall depth of the beam exceeds 750 mm, longitudinal bars should be
provided at a spacing not exceeding 250 mm over a distance of two-thirds of the
overall depth from the tension face. The size of bar should not be less than (see
BS8110: Part 1, clause 3.12.5.4) sb1/2b/fy where sb is the bar spacing and b is the
breadth of the beam.
The maximum clear spacing between bars in slabs is given in BS8110: Part 1,
clause 3.12.11.7. This clause states that the clear distance between bars should not
exceed three times the effective depth or 750 mm. It also states that no further
checks are required if
(a) grade 250 steel is used and the slab depth does not exceed 250 mm
(b) grade 460 steel is used and the slab depth does not exceed 200 mm
(c) the reinforcement percentage 100As/bd is less than 0.3% where As is the minimum
recommended area, b is the breadth of the slab considered and d is the effective
depth
Refer to clauses 3.12.11.7 and 3.12.11.8 for other requirements regarding crack
control in slabs.
A reinforced concrete beam is subject to moment cracks on the tension face when the
tensile strength of the concrete is exceeded. Primary cracks form first and with
increase in moment secondary cracks form as shown in Fig. 6.17(a). Cracking has
been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically. The crack width at a
point on the surface of a reinforced concrete beam has been found to be affected by
two factors:
1. the surface strain found by analysing the sections and assuming that plane sections
remain plane and
2. the distance of the point from a point of zero crack width. Points of zero