EC2: Minimum and maximum longitudinal reinforcement

DATA

Member (?)

Dimensions (?)

b(cm) h(cm) c(mm)

Materials

fck(MPa) (?) fyk(MPa)

INTERNAL FORCES

Bending Mk(Kn·m) (?)

Axial force Nk(KN) (?)

VALUES FOR USE IN A COUNTRY

Use values recommended

RESULT

Minimum tension reinfor. Asmin,T(cm2) Maximum reinforcement Asmax(cm2)

 1.2 36

Reinforcement proposed

Minimum Maximum

As1 As2 As1 As2

2Φ10 2Φ6 3Φ32 2Φ25

DETAILS OF CALCULATION
Notation and methodology according to clause 7.3.2 and 9.2 of EC2

Asmin,T (Minimum tensile reinforcement area) = 1.2 cm2

Asmin,T = max (Asmin_cracking ; Asmin_beam), with:

Asmin_cracking (minimum reinforcement to control cracking) = 1.04 cm2

Asmin_cracking = kc · k · fct,eff · Act / σs
Asmin_cracking = 0.4 · 1 · 2.9 · 450 / 500 = 1.04 cm2
where

 σs = fyk = 500 MPa

 fct,eff = fctm = 2.9 MPa
fctm = 0,30 × fck(2/3) = 0,30 × 30(2/3) = 2.9 MPa
 k = 1 (h ≤ 300)
 Act = b · hct = 30 · 15 = 450 cm2
hct (depth tension zone) = 15 cm
hct = h/2 - (h2/12)·(Nk/Mk), (≥ 0 y ≤ h)
hct,aux = 30/2 - (302/12)·(0/7000) = 15 cm
 kc = 0.4·[1 - σc/(k1·h/h*· fct,eff)] ≤ 1
kc,aux = 0.4·[1 - (0)/(1.5·30/30· 2.9)] = 0.4
where
o σc = NEd / (b·h) = 0/(300·300) = 0 MPa
o h* = min (h ; 100) = 30 cm
 o k1 = 1,5

Asmin_beam (minimum reinforcement for beam) = 1.2 cm2

Asmin_beam = max (Asmin_beam_1 ; Asmin_beam_2) = max (1.2 ; 1.03) = 1.2 cm2
where

 Asmin_beam_1 = 0.26 · fctm/fyk · bt · d

Asmin_beam_1 = 0.26 · 2.9/500 · 30 · 26.5 = 1.2 cm2
with d (effective depth) = h - c = 30 - 3.5 = 26.5 cm
 Asmin_beam_2 = 0.0013 · bt · d = 0.0013 · 30 · 26.5 = 1.03 cm2

Asmax (Maximum reinforcement in section beam) = 36 cm2

Asmax = 0.04 · Ac = 0.04 · 30 · 30 cm2

7.3.2 Minimum reinforcenlent areas

(1)P If crack control is required, a minimum amount of bonded reinforcement is required to

control cracking in areas where tension is expected. The amount may be estimated from
equilibrium between the tensile force in concrete just before cracking and the tensile force in
reinforcement at yielding or at a lower stress if necessary to limit the crack width.

(2) Unless a more rigorous calculation shows lesser areas to be adequate, the required minimum
areas of reinforcement may be calculated as follows. In profiled cross sections like Tbeams and
box girders, minimum reinforcement should be determined for the individual parts of the section
(webs, flanges).
As,mín·σs = kc · k · fct,eff · Act
(7.1)
where:

 As,min is the minimum area of reinforcing steel within the tensile zone
 Act is the area of concrete within tensile zone. The tensile zone is that part of the section
which is calculated to be in tension just before formation of the first crack
 σs is the absolute value of the maximum stress permitted in the reinforcement
immediately after formation of the crack. This may be taken as the yield strength of the
reinforcement, fyk. A lower value may, however, be needed to satisfy the crack width
limits according to the maximum bar size or spacing (see 7.3.3 (2))
 fct,eff is the mean value of the tensile strength of the concrete effective at the time when
the cracks may first be expected to occur:
fct,eff = fctm or lower, (fctm(t)), if cracking is expected earlier than 28 days
 k is the coefficient which allows for the effect of non-uniform self-equilibrating stresses,
which lead to a reduction of restraint forces
= 1,0 for webs with h ≤ 300 mm or flanges with widths less than 300 mm
= 0,65 for webs with h ≥ 800 mm or flanges with widths greater than 800 mm
intermediate values may be interpolated
 kc is a coefficient which takes account of the stress distribution within the section
immediately prior to cracking and of the change of the lever arm:
For pure tension kc = 1,0
For bending or bending combined with axial forces:
- For rectangular sections and webs of box sections and T -sections:

(7.2)

- For flanges of box sections and T -sections:

(7.3)

where

o σc is the mean stress of the concrete acting on the part of the section under
consideration:

σc = NEd / (bh)

(7.4)
 o NEd is the axial force at the serviceability limit state acting on the part of the
cross-section under consideration (compressive force positive). NEdshould be
determined considering the characteristic values of prestress and axial forces
under the relevant combination of actions
o h* = h for h < 1,0 m
h* = 1,0 m for h ≥ 1,0 m
o k1 is a coefficient considering the effects of axial forces on the stress distribution:
k1 = 1,5 if NEd is a compressive force
k1= 2h*/(3h) if NEd is a tensile force
o Fcr is the absolute value of the tensile force within the flange immediately prior to
cracking due to the cracking moment calculated with fct,eff

9.2 Beams

9.2.1 Longitudinal reinforcement

9.2.1.1 Minimum and maximum reinforcement areas

(1) The area of longitudinal tension reinforcement should not be taken as less than As,min.

Note 1: See also 7.3 for area of longitudinal tension reinforcement to control cracking.

Note 2: The value of As,min for beams for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex.
The recommended value is given in the following:
As,min = 0.26·fctm/fyk·bt·d, but not less than 0.0013·bt·d
(9.1N)
where:

 bt denotes the mean width of the tension zone; for a T-beam with the flange in
compression, only the width of the web is taken into account in calculating the value of bt
 fctm should be determined with respect to the relevant strength class according to Table
3.1:
fctm = 0,30 × fck(2/3), fck ≤ 50
fctm = 2.12·Ln(1+(fcm/10)), fck > 50/60
with fcm = fck+8 (MPa)

(2) Sections containing less reinforcement than As,min should be considered as unreinforced.
(3) The cross-sectional area of tension or compression reinforcement should not exceed
As,max outside lap locations.

Note: The value of As,max for beams for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex.
The recommended value is 0.04·Ac.

9.3 Solid slabs

(1) This section applies to one-way and two-way solid slabs for which b and leff are not less than
5h (member for which the minimum panel dimension is not less than 5 times the overall slab
thickness).

9.3.1 Flexural reinforcement

9.3.1.1 General

(1) For the minimum and the maximum steel percentages in the main direction 9.2,1,1 (1) and
(3) apply.

(2) Secondary transverse reinforcement of not less than 20% of the principal reinforcement
should be provided in one way slabs. In areas near supports transverse reinforcement to principal
top bars is not necessary where there is no transverse bending moment.

(3) The spacing of bars should not exceed smax,slabs.

Note; The value of smax,slabs for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex. The
recommended value is:

- for the principal reinforcement, 3·h ≤ 400 mm, where h is the total depth of the slab;
- for the secondary reinforcement, 3.5·h ≤ 450 mm

In areas with concentrated loads or areas of maximum moment those provisions become
respectively:
- for the principal reinforcement, 2·h ≤ 250 mm
- for the secondary reinforcement, 3·h ≤ 400 mm.

9.5 Columns

(1) This clause deals with columns for which the larger dimension h is not greater than 4 times
the smaller dimension b.

9.5.1 General
9.5.2 Longitudinal reinforcement

(1) Longitudinal bars should have a diameter of not less than Φmin.

Note: The value of ¢min for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex. The
recommended value is 8 mm.

(2) The total amount of longitudinal reinforcement should not be less than As,min

Note: The value of As,min for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex. The
recommended value is given by Expression (9.12N)
As,min = max (0.1·NEd/fyd ; 0.002·Ac)
(9.12N)
where:

 fyd is the design yield strength of the reinforcement

 NEd is the design axial compression force

(3) The area of longitudinal reinforcement should not exceed As,max

Note: The value of As,max for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex. The
recommended value is 0.04·Ac outside lap locations unless it can be shown that the integrity of
concrete is not affected, and that the full strength is achieved at ULS. This limit should be
increased to 0.08·Ac at laps.

(4) For columns having a polygonal cross-section, at least one bar should be placed at each
corner. The number of longitudinal bars in a circular column should not be less than four.

9.6 Walls

9.6.1 General

(1) This clause refers to reinforced concrete walls with a length to thickness ratio of 4 or more
and in which the reinforcement is taken into account in the strength analysis

9.6.2 Vertical reinforcement

(1) The area of the vertical reinforcement should lie between As,vmin and As,vmax.

Note 1: The value of As,vmin for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex. The
recommended value is 0.002·Ac.
Note 2: The value of As,vmax for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex. The
recommended value is 0.04·Ac outside lap locations unless it can be shown that the concrete
integrity is not affected and that the full strength is achieved at ULS. This limit may be doubled
at laps.

(2) Where the minimum area of reinforcement, As,vmin, controls in design, half of this area should
be located at each face.

(3) The distance between two adjacent vertical bars shall not exceed 3 times the wall thickness or
400 mm whichever is the lesser.

9.6.3 Horizontal reinforcement

(1) Horizontal reinforcement running parallel to the faces of the wall (and to the free edges)
should be provided at each surface. It should not be less than As,hmin.

Note: The value of As,hmin for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex. The
recommended value is either 25% of the vertical reinforcement or 0.001·Ac, whichever is
greater.

(2) The spacing between two adjacent horizontal bars should not be greater than 400 mm.

9.8 Foundations

9.8.1 Column and wall footings

(1) A minimum bar diameter Φmin should be provided

Note: The value of Φmin for use in a Country may be found in its National Annex. The
recommended value is 8 mm.