Lap splice length and details of column longitudinal reinforcement

at plastic hinge region

Hong-Gun Park1) and Chul-Goo Kim2)

1), 2
Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Seoul National
University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
1)
parkhg@snu.ac.kr
2)
these09@naver.ac.kr

ABSTRACT

Longitudinal bars in columns are often lap-spliced at the bottom of first story
columns where potential plastic hinges are formed. In the present study, seismic
resistance of columns with such re-bar splices were investigated by performing cyclic
load tests. The effects of lap splice length and details of column longitudinal bars were
mainly evaluated. The test results showed that the flexural strength, deformation
capacity, and energy dissipation capacity of columns were significantly affected by the
splice details despite the same lap splice length. In the column with bottom offset bar
splice, the deformation and energy dissipation capacities were relatively large but the
flexural strength was less. In the columns with top offset bar splice or straight bar splice,
on the other hand, the flexural strength was high but ductility was less.

1. INTRODUCTION

In low and moderate seismic zones, lap splices of column longitudinal bars are
used at the bottom of columns where potential plastic hinges form. The seismic
performance of columns with such re-bar splices can be degraded due to premature
bond deterioration of spliced bars. Thus, for special moment frames in ACI 318-14, lap
splices are permitted in the center half of the column height where relatively small
inelastic deformation is required.
The flexural strength and deformation capacity of columns with re-bar splices are
mainly influenced by the offset bar details shown in Fig. 1. ACI 315-99 specifies two
types of offset bar details; bottom offset bar splice and top offset bar splice. In the
bottom offset bar splice, the bottom splice bars from the lower story are offset inside
and spliced with straight top bars. In the top offset bar splice, the top bars are offset
inside and spliced with the straight bottom bars from the lower story. However, in small

1)
Professor
2)
Graduate Student
buildings, alternatively, lap splices of straight bars are used for convenient construction
(Fig. 1(c)).

In the present study, cyclic loading tests of columns with three offset bar details
and various splice lengths (ls = 30 ~ 50db) were performed to evaluate the flexural
strength, deformation capacity, and energy dissipation capacity of the columns.
⇒ Bottom splice bar (●) ⇒ Top splice bar (○)

Top bar parallel to

Top splice bar bottom splice bar
Bottom splice bar offset inside the without offset
offset inside the core bend
core
1:6
offset

(a) Bottom offset bar splice (b) Top offset bar splice (c) Straight bar splice
Fig. 1 Lap splice details of column longitudinal bars

(Unit : mm)
SL50S2B SL30S2T SL50S2S
SL40S2T
SL50S2T

SD500
D25
6 (=78)
40 SD400
D13
400 =2400

Bottom offset
bar splice =165 =165 =165
= 50 = 30, 40
(=1250 mm) 50 = 50

Top offset
bar splice 80 80 80

600

Straight bar
splice < Bottom offset bar splice > < Top offset bar splice > < Straight bar splice >

Fig. 2 Dimensions and reinforcement details of spliced columns

2. TEST PROGRAM

The major test parameters include lap splice length and lap splice details. In the
specimen names, the letters ‘L30’, ‘L40’, and ‘L50’ denote the length of lap splices, ls=
30db, 40db, and 50db, respectively; the last letters ‘B’, ‘T’, and ‘S’ denote the offset bar
details: Bottom offset bar splice, Top offset bar details, and Straight bar splice.
The dimensions and reinforcement details of the columns are presented in Fig. 2.
The cross-sectional dimension was 400 mm x 400 mm and the shear span length was
2400 mm (a/h = 6.0). SD500 D25 and SD400 D13 bars (db=25.4 mm and 12.7 mm)
were used for longitudinal and transverse reinforcing bars, respectively. The splice
lengths ranged from 30db to 50db were equivalent to 56% ~ 108% of required lap splice
length ls,ACI in ACI 318-14 using the actual material strength.
The spliced bars were confined by ties with 90º end hooks at a spacing of s = 165
mm (= 0.5d). As shown in Fig. 2, the 90º end hooks was alternated end for end in
accordance with the reinforcement detailing provision of ACI 318-14.

3. MATERIAL STRENGTH

As the cyclic load tests were performed twice, concrete compressive strength (fc')
and the bar yield and tensile strengths (fy and fu, respectively) differed in each test
group. The yield strength and tensile strength are fy = 475 ~ 590 MPa and fu = 656 ~
707 MPa, respectively. Compression tests of concrete cylinders (100 mm x 200 mm)
were performed on the first day of testing. The compressive strengths of the concrete
were fc' = 27 and 37 MPa.

4. CYCLIC BEHAVIOR OF SPLICED COLUMNS

The lateral load − lateral drift ratio relationships of the columns are presented in
Fig. 3. The lateral drift ratio δ was calculated by dividing the lateral displacement Δ at
the loading point by the shear span (a = 2400 mm). The maximum test load Vu were
denoted as white circles, while the predicted strengths Vn (=Mn/a) were denoted as
horizontal dashed lines. Moment strength Mn of each column was calculated from
section analysis considering the applied axial load N, actual material strengths, and the
location of the bottom splice bars in the cross-section at the column base. In the bottom
offset bar splice (SL50S2B), since the longitudinal bars are located relatively inside the
concrete core, the predicted strength Vn is approximately 10% smaller than other splice
columns (SL50S2T and SL50S2S). In the specimens where bond splitting failure
occurred, the points at initial vertical cracking and bond failure were marked with white
and grey squares, respectively.
Figures 3(a)-(c) show the cyclic behaviors of SL30S2T, SL40S2T, and SL50S2T
with top offset bar splice, respectively. In the columns with top offset bar splice, the
ductility was limited, particularly in SL30S2T and SL40S2T with short lap splices (ls /
ls,ACI = 0.56 and 0.74). The deformation capacity increased as the lap splice length
increased. In SL30S2T and SL40S2T, initial vertical cracking and bond failure along the
lap splice regions occurred at 1st cycle of δ = 2.5~3.5% and 1st cycle of δ = 3.5~5.0%,
respectively. In SL50S2T with top offset bar splice and ls / ls,ACI of 1.08, initial vertical
cracking and bond failure along lap splice length occurred at 1st cycle and 2nd cycle of
δ = 5.0%, respectively
In SL50S2B with bottom offset bar splice and ls / ls,ACI of 1.08, on the other hand,
ductile behavior was maintained until δ = 7.0% without significant strength degradation.
SL50S2B showed the greatest capacity in terms of ductility and energy dissipation.
Bond splitting did not occur, and the test was terminated without failure due to lack of
the actuator stroke. In SL50S2S with straight bar splice, the cyclic behavior was similar
to SL50S2T with top offset bar splice. The maximum loads (Vu = 175 ~ 187 kN) were 9%
greater than the nominal strength (Vn = 166 kN), and bond failure with vertical splitting
cracks occurred at 2nd cycle of δ = 5.0%. Despite the different lap splice details in
SL50S2T and SL50S2S, the maximum strength, deformation capacity, and failure
mode were almost identical because the location of bottom splice bars to resist flexural
moment was the same in SL50S2T and SL50S2S.

: Peak load : Initial vertical splitting crack at splice zone : Bond failure
200 200 200
3 5
150 4 150 4 150
Lateral load (kN)

100 100 100

50 Top offset 50 Top offset 50 Top offset
bar splice bar splice bar splice
0 0 0
-50 -50
(a) SL30S2T -50
(b) SL40S2T (c) SL50S2T
-100 = 27-100
MPa -100
= 27 MPa = 37 MPa
= 800 kN (18.5%) = 800 kN (18.5%) = 890 kN (15%)
-150 -150 -150
− 55 − 5 −
-200 -200 -200
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8
200 200 5 Lateral Drift ratio(%)
5
150 53 150
Lateral load (kN)

100 100
50 Bottom offset 50 Straight bar
bar splice splice
0 0
-50 (d) SL50S2B
-50 (e) SL50S2S
= 37 MPa
-100 -100 = 37 MPa
= 890 kN (15%) = 890 kN (15%)
-150 -150
− 5 −
-200 -200
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 -8
8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 Top offset Bottom offset Straight bar
bar splice bar splice splice
Lateral Drift ratio(%) Lateral Drift ratio(%)
Fig. 3 Lateral load − drift ratio relationship of spliced columns

5. CONCLUSIONS

The flexural strength and deformation capacity of spliced columns are mainly
affected by the location of bottom splice bars and splice length ls. The column with
bottom offset bar splice showed relatively lower flexural strength but greater ductility
and energy dissipation capacity. On the other hand, the columns with top offset bar
splice or straight bar splice showed greater flexural strength but lower ductility and
energy dissipation capacity. Furthermore, the nominal flexural strength of spliced
columns should be calculated considering the location of the bottom splice bars in the
plastic hinge region.

REFERENCES

ACI Committee 3 5. ( ), “Details and Detailing of Concrete Reinforcement”,

American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, USA.
ACI Committee 3 . ( 0 4), “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and
Commentary”, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, USA.