28/9/2019

The NSCP 2015

Requirements for the
Use of QT/TMT
Reinforcing Bars
RONALDO S. ISON, F. ASEP, F.PICE
President, Association of Structural Engineers of the
Philippines

ISSEP-ISSEP 2019
Century Park Hotel, Manila, 28 September 2019

Background

The NSCP 2015 in Section 420.7.6 introduced

the provisions on the qualified use of
Quenched Tempered/Thermo-Mechanically
Treated (QT/TMT) Reinforcing Bars for
structures located in seismic zone 4.

1
 28/9/2019

NSCP Provisions QT/TMT Reinforcing Bars

Section 420.7.6.1 Reinforcing bars to comply

with AS/NZS 4671. Reinforcement shall be
manufactured using either micro-alloy process
or the in-line quenched tempered process.

NSCP Referenced AS/NZS Code Provisions

▪ NZS 3101: 2006 Parts 1 and 2 New Zealand

Standard, Concrete Structures Standard (current)
▪ NZS 3109 : 1997 New Zealand Standard, Concrete
Construction (current)
▪ AS/NZS 4671:2001 Steel Reinforcing Material
(current)
▪ AS/NZS 1554.3 : 2008 Structural Steel Welding –
Welding of Reinforcing Steel (superseded 2014+A1)

2
 28/9/2019

Practice Advisory 11 – Grade 500E

reinforcing steel, New Zealand

Practice Advisory 11 – Grade 500E

reinforcing steel, New Zealand

3
 28/9/2019

Practice Advisory 11
– Grade 500E
reinforcing steel,
New Zealand

Practice Advisory 11
– Grade 500E
reinforcing steel,
New Zealand

4
 28/9/2019

MA and QT/TMT Rebars Manufacturing Process

 Micro-Alloyed (MA) rebars are produced by
hot-rolling and air cooling, with uniform
microstructure (ferrite-pearlite).

 Quenched Tempered/Thermo Mechanically

Treated (QT/TMT) rebars are produced by a
three-staged process: hot-rolling, quenching
through high pressure water jets (formation
of hardened outer layer or rim of
martensite ), and surface layer is tempered
due to the flow of heat from core (ferrite-
perlite) to the surface

MA and QT/TMT Rebars Cross-Section

Paul, et al 1

10

5
 28/9/2019

NSCP Restrictions on the Use of QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars

Section 420.7.6.2 Reinforcement bars

manufactured by the in-line quenched
tempered process shall not be used when
welding, galvanizing, hot bending or
threading of bars occurs.

11

NSCP Restrictions on the Use of QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars

Section 420.7.6.4 Quenched and tempered

reinforcing bars shall not be STRAIGHTENED or
REBENT.

12

6
 28/9/2019

NSCP Restrictions on the Use of QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars

Section 420.7.6.5 Quenched and tempered

reinforcing bars cannot be welded without
strength loss.

13

NSCP Restrictions on the Use of QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars
Section 420.7.7 Restrictions prohibit the use of
QT/TMT reinforcing bars specifically where:
1. There is preheating greater than 275 deg C,
2. Bending of reinforcing bars require preheating,
3. Splicing of reinforcing bars that will require
welding or lap or butt-welded joints,
4. Threading of reinforcing bars ends for use of
mechanical couplers, and
5. Tack welding for grounding wires will be
required.
14

7
 28/9/2019

Summary of Restrictions QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars in Building Construction
✓ Welding is not allowed.
✓ Hot bending or heating beyond 275 deg C is
not allowed.
✓ Galvanizing is not allowed.
✓ Rebending or straightening is not allowed.
✓ Threading of bars for mechanical couplers is
not allowed.

15

Summary of Restrictions QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars in Building Construction

✓ Lap welding,
butt welding
and tack
welding are not
allowed.

16

8
 28/9/2019

Summary of Restrictions QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars in Building Construction
✓ Hot bending or
heating beyond 275
deg Celsius is not
allowed.

17

Summary of Restrictions QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars in Building Construction

✓ Galvanizing is not
allowed.

18

9
 28/9/2019

Summary of Restrictions QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars in Building Construction

✓ Rebending or bending then re-straightening

is not allowed.

19

Summary of Restrictions QT/TMT

Reinforcing Bars in Building Construction

✓ Threading of bars for

mechanical couplers
are not allowed.

20

10
 28/9/2019

Can the restrictions be avoided for

the QT/TMT bars be used in the
construction of buildings i.e. low
rise up to high rise buildings?

21

Construction of Low-Rise to High-Rise

Buildings ( lap splices and non-threaded
mechanical couplers)

22

11
 28/9/2019

Construction of Low-Rise to High-Rise

Buildings ( bending of reinforcing bars)

23

Construction of Low-Rise to High-Rise

Buildings ( bending of reinforcing bars)

24

12
 28/9/2019

Important Requirement !
NSCP Provisions on Yield, Tensile Strength
and Bar Elongation

Section 420.2.2.5 , deformed, non-prestressed

reinforcements, revisiting earthquake induced
forces shall be in accordance with the
following:
i. actual yield strength based on mill test
does not exceed fy by more than 125 MPa

25

Important Requirement !
NSCP Provisions on Yield, Tensile Strength and
Bar Elongation
ii. ratio of actual tensile strength to the
actual yield strength, TS/YS, is at least
1.25; and
iii. minimum elongation in 200 mm shall be at
least 14% for 10-20 mm dia., 12% for 25-36
mm dia. and 10% for 40 mm dia.

26

13
 28/9/2019

Excerpt .. NEHRP, 2014, Use of High Strength

Reinforcement in Earthquake Resistant Concrete
Structures
“Reinforcement with a higher value of the ratio of tensile
strength to yield strength (such as 1.25 for A706
reinforcement) is expected to spread plasticity in regions of
yielding better than reinforcement with a smaller value of this
ratio. The increased spread of plasticity results in longer
plastic hinge lengths and, potentially, increased ductility.
Another benefit of having a higher value for this ratio is
maintaining or increasing the strength of a member after
concrete cover spalling.” -

27

Excerpt .. Macchi G. et al, 1996, Ductility

Requirements for Reinforcements Under
Eurocodes
“The ratio fu/fy = 1.10 appears inadequate for the intended
use of the steel. A preliminary study of the cases in which
behaviour was satisfactory suggests that the ratio should be
increase to 1.15 to 1.20. An ultimate elongation of 8% may
also be beneficial”

28

14
 28/9/2019

Excerpt .. Paul K.S. et al, 2013, High and Low

Cycle Fatigue Performance Comparison between
Micro-Alloyed and TMT Rebar
“MA rebars exhibits better HCF and LCF performances than
TMT rebars. Elevated LCF lives of MA rebars can be explained
by superior uniform elongation and higher UTS/YS ratio in MA
rebar in comparison with TMT rebar. ”

TS/YS ratio

TMT = 1.18
MA = 1.40

29

Excerpt .. Rai D.C. etal, 2012, 15th WCEE,

Evaluation of Properties of Steel Reinforcing
Bars for Seismic Design
“A high UTS/YS ratio is necessary to have a dependable peak
strength greater than the yield value. Beams with standard
TMT bars of UTS/YS ratio of 1.25 were better than those with
UTS/YS ratio equal to 1.15. ”

The present practice and NSCP code requirements already

set the TS/YS ratio of reinforcing bars in the Philippines to a
minimum of 1.25.

30

15
 28/9/2019

Recommendations
✓ QT/TMT rebars can be used in the construction of low to high-rise
buildings or other structures.
✓ Requirements on TS/YS ratios, elongation and other mechanical
properties of MA and TMT rebars shall be conformed with in the
design/construction of structures. These requirements are already
in the present code and is being complied with in design and
construction.
✓ The restrictions on the qualified use of QT/TMT rebars imposed by
the NSCP shall be strictly followed.
✓ Alternative construction methods and techniques may be utilized
to properly use these QT/TMT rebars in the construction of
buildings/infrastructures.

31

Thank you for listening!

32

16
 28/9/2019

AS/NZS 4671 ASTM A615/A706

33

17