GROUT

DEFORMED BAR

Grout-filled
metal sleeve
splices rebars
Applications include precast and
post-tensioned structures

DEFORMED BAR

SLEEVE

Figure 1. In this splicing device,

hardened grout locks reinforcing
bars inside a metal sleeve.

rebar splicing device developed originally to

connect precast concrete members is now being used for cast-in-place construction as
well. A metal splice sleeve is filled with grout
that provides a mechanical bond between rebar deformations and grooves on the inside of the sleeve (see
Figure 1).

Figure 2. When a pre-grouting method is used, grout is

poured into the metal sleeve and the precast member is
lowered into place. Members must be braced for at least
24 hours after grouting. This procedure is used primarily for
erecting precast columns.

Structural continuity for precast members

If precast concrete buildings must resist heavy wind
loads or moderate seismic forces, structural continuity is
required. The precast elements must function as a single unit and reinforcing bars must be mechanically
spliced.
When used in precast members, the splice sleeves are
attached to the main structural reinforcing bars at the
precasting plant and are embedded in the precast concrete. Sleeves are installed at one end of the rebar and the
opposite end of the bar protrudes from the precast piece.
On the jobsite, the protruding bars mate with the sleeves
as shown in Figure 2.
If panels are erected with sleeves in the top of the precast elements, grouting is done by pouring grout into the
sleeve. This simple method, called pre-grouting, doesnt
make efficient use of the crane. The panel must first be
set to assure proper mating of the sleeves and bars, then

Figure 3. When a post-grouting method is used, the member is

lowered into place and immediately braced. Grouting is done
later with a hand-operated grout pump. This method makes
more efficient use of crane time and is preferred over pregrouting for most applications such as connecting shear walls
or connecting structural elements to foundations.

Figure 5. Splice sleeves are set in place to connect rebars in

the floor and wall after post-tensioning tendons have been
stressed. Grout is pumped into the inlet hole on the right
and comes out of the outlet hole when the sleeve is filled.

Figure 4. This detail permits delayed structural connection

between a post-tensioned floor and cast-in-place wall. The
delay allows all elastic shortening and much of the
shrinkage and creep shortening to take place in the floor
with minimal restraint from the supporting walls.

tween precast elements. Otherwise there is a danger that

workers will use the wrong grout to fill splice sleeves. The
grout used in splice sleeves costs more than the usual
bedding materials but it can be installed very quickly,
thus reducing labor and crane time.

Post-tensioning applications
raised and held while grout is poured into the sleeves.
Too much crane time is wasted. A better method is called
post-grouting. The sleeve is cast in the bottom of the
precast element and a low-pressure grout pump is used
to force grout into the sleeve after the panels have been
joined as shown in Figure 3. In post-grouting, once the
precast piece has been lowered into place on a layer of
bedding mortar and shims, braces are connected and
the crane can be released. Grouting can take place later
without having an effect on crane operations.
Regardless of whether pre- or post-grouting is used,
members must be braced for 24 hours after joining to allow the grout to harden and cure. The grout is a premixed, high-strength, shrinkage-compensating formulation that reaches approximately 3000 psi compressive
strength in one day at 68 degrees F. About 20 percent water by weight of the dry ingredients is added on site and
the grout is mechanically mixed for 2 minutes.
Wet bedding is sometimes used instead of dry packing
at joints between precast members. Less material is
needed than is used in dry packing and the resulting
joints are thinner. If wet bedding is used when the pregrouting procedure is employed, the same grout should
be used for filling the sleeves and for the bedding be-

The sleeves have also been used to reduce re s t ra i n t

forces in post-tensioned slabs. Post-tensioned floor
slabs or beams can induce high bending and shear
stresses in walls or columns to which they are structurally connected. When post-tensioning cables are stressed,
the beams or slabs shorten and exert horizontal forces
on the vertical members. The forces can cause cracking.
One way of reducing restraint forces is to delay making
structural connections until all of the elastic shortening
and much of the creep and shrinkage shortening have
taken place.
Richard Weingardt Consultants Inc. of Denver developed the design detail shown in Figure 4 for use with
post-tensioned slabs supported by cast-in-place concrete walls. In this application, splice sleeves were used
on horizontal bars and the construction sequence was
as follows. A 10-inch-thick, one-story wall was cast and
smooth troweled on top. The floor slab was formed so
that the floor overlapped the wall by 4 inches. Prestressing tendons, rebar dowels and splice sleeves (Figure 5)
were installed and then the floor was poured. Splice
sleeves, howe ve r, we re nt grouted at this time. After the
proper curing period the tendons were stressed and the
next level of the wall was formed and cast.

A waiting period of 60 days was specified before the

splice sleeves were grouted to provide a structural connection between the wall and floor. This delay permitted
all of the elastic shortening and about 50 percent of the
shrinkage and creep shortening to take place in the floor
with minimal restraint from the supporting walls.

Other applications

time, but a major drawback is that the cages must be

guyed and braced at least overnight and perhaps longer
in cold weather.
This splicing method has gained acceptance by the International Conference of Building Officials and was recently used in a 21-story Denver high-rise to form what
is believed to be the tallest precast concrete shear wall
tower featuring the system.

The grout-filled sleeves have also been used in tilt-up

work as moment connectors at the foundation, connecting tilt-up panels to foundation dowels. Another application is in splicing rebars at the base of pre-tied column rebar cages. The advantage is a saving in crane

Copyright 1985, The Aberdeen Group

All rights reserved

PUBLICATION #C850929