Performance of lapped splices in reinforced concrete loaded beyond yielding of the steel

Abstract

Eighteen beams designed to fail in the lap splice after reaching yield of the reinforcing steel were tested under either a single load application or low cycle repeated loading. Splice lengths were varied from well below code requirements up to approximately those required by current codes and design methods. Performance was studied on the basis of the ductility exhibited prior to failure and the influence of load cycling and stress–strain characteristics of the reinforcing steel. No confinement (stirrups or a spiral) was provided to the splice.Comparison is made with common lap splice design methods. These assume that the beam will respond adequately and the splice will not fail prematurely if the splice length is made long enough to withstand a steel stress 25% above the normal yield strength of the reinforcing steel. The detrimental effects on ductility of higher than nominal yield stress and of strain hardening at relatively low strains for the grade 60 (nominal yield stress = 60 ksi (414 MPa)) deformed reinforcing steel used are noted. The possible weakness of using nominal yield strengths for the reinforcing steel with current design methods is emphasized.