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📝 This template has been written in accordance with AS3600-2018.
The development length is the minimum length of a reinforcing bar over which the stress in the bar can increase from zero to the yield strength. If the development length is not met, the section capacity of the section is reduced to compensate. This CalcTree template calculates the minimum reinforcement development length required in both tension and compression.

Calculation

Inputs

Material Properties

Concrete:


f'c
:25MPa



Concrete elastic modulus, Ec
:26700MPa


Reinforcement:


Shape
:Straight



Type
:Deformed



fsy
:500MPa



Section Geometry and Reinforcement



B
:700mm



D
:450mm


Longitudinal Reinforcement:


Longitudinal reinforcement size, db
:16mm



Number of bars
:5



c
:60mm



a
:109.0mm



Is there more than 300mm of concrete cast below the reinforcement?
:No


Shear Reinforcement:


dsv
:16mm



s
:200mm



Number of ligs in cross-section
:4



Considerations for Development Length



Lightweight concrete?
:No



Epoxy-coated bars?
:No



Bundled?
:Single bar



σ
:500MPa

❗If calculating the full development length, input

= fsy = 500 MPa


ρp
:0MPa

❗If there is transverse reinforcement around the bar being developed, the stress in the transverse reinforcement is to be calculated. For a conservative approach, use

MPa.

Outputs

Multiplication Factors



Factor for lightweight concrete
:1



Factor for epoxy-coated bars
:1.0



Factor for developing less than yield stress
:1



Factor for plain bars in tension
:1.0



Factor for hook or cog
:1.0



Factor for bundling
:1



Basic Development Length in Tension,



Lsy.tb=0.5k1k3fsydbk2fc0.058fsyk1dbL_{sy.tb}=\frac{0.5k_1k_3f_{sy}d_b}{k_2\sqrt{f'_c}}\geq0.058f_{sy}k_1d_b


k1
:1



k2
:1.16



k3
:0.7



Lsy.tb
:483mm


Details



cd
:54.5mm



Refined Development Length in Tension,




Lsy.t=k4k5Lsy.tbL_{sy.t}=k_4k_5L_{sy.tb}
If

, minimum condition governs i.e.

.


k4
:0.7



k5
:1



Lsy.t
:483mm


Details



λ
:3.7499999999999996



ΣAtr
:804.247719318987mm2



ΣAtr.min
:50.26548245743669mm2



nbs
:5.0



nf
:4.0



K
:0.09000000000000001



Basic Development Length in Compression,




Lsy.cb=max(0.22fsyfc0.0435fsydb , 200mm)L_{sy.cb}=\text{max}(\frac{0.22f_{sy}}{\sqrt{f'_c}}\geq0.0435f_{sy}d_b\space,\space\text{200mm})


Lsy.cb
:348mm



Refined Development Length in Compression,



Lsy.c=k6Lsy.cbL_{sy.c}=k_6L_{sy.cb}


k6
:0.75



Lsy.c
:261mm



Explanation

Minimum development length must be met to develop a safe bond between the surface of the reinforcing bar and surrounding concrete. If the development length is not met, the section capacity of the section is reduced to compensate. The development length of a bar transfers stresses developed in one section to adjoining sections (e.g. slab-column, beam-column, etc.).
Development length in common structural configurations

The development length varies for bars in tension and compression. When in tension, the bar experiences bond stresses as it tries to pull out. When in compression, the end of the bar is bearing against the concrete and part of the bearing stresses are transferred as compression. Hence, the required development length of a bar in tension is longer.
Adopted from AS3600-2018 Supplement 1, Figure C13.1.1

When the bar is experiencing a force, the deformations (threads) on the bar bear on the surrounding concrete, see image (a) above. This exerts an outward radial force, causing tensile stresses in the surrounding concrete, see images (b) and (c), which may lead to splitting cracks if the tensile strength of concrete is exceeded, see image (d). Achieving minimum reinforcement development length aids in reducing the occurrence of these cracks, which could cause failure. For bars in compression, the reduction in bond stress caused by flexure and tension doesn't occur. Hence, the required development length is shorter for bars in compression

Code References

AS3600-2018 Section 13 prescribes how to calculate the minimum reinforcement development length.

Basic Tensile Development Length - AS3600 Cl. 13.1.2.2


Lsy.tb=0.5k1k3fsydbk2fc0.058fsyk1dbL_{sy.tb}=\dfrac{0.5k_1k_3f_{sy}d_b}{k_2\sqrt{f'_c}}\geq0.058f_{sy}k_1d_b
The basic development length,

of a deformed bar depends on the following factors:
  1. 
    
    for a horizontal bar with more than 300mm of concrete cast below of the bar, otherwise
    
    . This accounts for reduction in bond strength due to accumulation of bleed water along the bar's underside when there is a considerable depth of concrete cast below.
  2. 
    
  3. 
    
    within limits of
    
    .
Where:
  1. 
    
    is the diameter of the developing bar
  2. 
    
    is the effective cover, see below
The effective cover,

differs depending on the reinforcement shape, spacing and cover:
Effective cover,  - AS3600-2018 Figure 13.1.2.2

The value of

calculated from above should be multiplied by:
  1. 1.5 if bars are epoxy-coated - coating around bars increase durability by protecting it against corrosion but reduces bonding strength to concrete
  2. 1.3 when lightweight concrete is used - mechanical properties of lightweight concrete are weaker than normal weight concrete


Refined Tensile Development Length - AS3600 Cl. 13.1.2.3

Additional Provisions for Tensile Development Length

Basic Compressive Development Length - AS3600 Cl. 13.1.5.1

Refined Compressive Development Length - AS3600 Cl. 13.1.5.4

Additional Provisions for Compressive Development Length

Related Resources

  1. Concrete Beam Design Calculator to AS3600
  2. Concrete Column Design Calculator to AS3600
  3. Concrete Slab-on-Grade Designer to AS3600
  4. Rectangular Footing Designer to AS3600
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