What is Development Length (Ld)?
Think of it like this: Ld is the minimum length of rebar that must be
embedded in concrete to ensure it can develop its full yield strength (fy)
without pulling out or splitting the concrete around it. It's all about ensuring a
strong bond between the steel and the concrete.
There are two main ways to calculate Ld: a set of simplified equations (most
common for typical designs) and a more general, complex equation. We'll
focus on the simplified equations first as they are widely used.
Simplified Equations for Tension Development Length (Ld)
These equations are valid as long as you meet certain minimum
requirements for concrete cover and rebar spacing, which are typical in well-
designed columns.
The general formula is:
Ld = ( ... ) * db
Where ( ... ) is a calculation involving the rebar and concrete properties,
and db is the nominal diameter of the rebar.
Here are the specific formulas in both SI (Metric) and US Customary
(Imperial) units.
1. For SI / Metric Units (MPa, mm)
For bar diameters 20 mm and smaller:
Ld = ( (fy * ψt * ψe) / (2.1 * λ * sqrt(f'c)) ) * db
For bar diameters larger than 20 mm:
Ld = ( (fy * ψt * ψe) / (1.7 * λ * sqrt(f'c)) ) * db
2. For US Customary / Imperial Units (psi, inches)
For bar sizes #6 (19 mm) and smaller:
Ld = ( (fy * ψt * ψe) / (25 * λ * sqrt(f'c)) ) * db
For bar sizes #7 (22 mm) and larger:
Ld = ( (fy * ψt * ψe) / (20 * λ * sqrt(f'c)) ) * db
Explanation of the Variables
Let's define each part of that formula:
fy: The specified yield strength of the rebar. Common values are 420
MPa (Grade 60) or 500 MPa (Grade 75). In Imperial, this is 60,000
psi or 75,000 psi.
f'c: The specified compressive strength of the concrete. Common
values range from 20 MPa to 40 MPa (or 3000 psi to 6000 psi).
db: The nominal diameter of the rebar you are using (e.g., 16 mm, 20
mm, 0.75 inches, 1.0 inches).
λ (Lambda): The lightweight concrete modification factor.
For normal-weight concrete, λ = 1.0. (This is the most common
case).
For lightweight concrete, λ = 0.75.
ψt (Psi-t): The "top bar" factor.
For "top bars" (horizontal bars with more than 300 mm / 12
inches of fresh concrete cast below them), ψt = 1.3.
For all other bars (including all vertical column bars), ψt = 1.0.
ψe (Psi-e): The epoxy coating factor.
For epoxy-coated or zinc-coated bars, ψe = 1.2 (or 1.5 if cover is
low, but for columns, 1.2 is typical).
For uncoated bars, ψe = 1.0.
ψs (Psi-s): The bar size factor (this is already baked into the simplified
formulas above by having different denominators for different bar
sizes).
Worked Example
Let's calculate Ld for a common scenario in an RCC column.
Assumptions:
Concrete Strength (f'c): 28 MPa (~4000 psi)
Rebar Yield Strength (fy): 420 MPa (Grade 60 steel)
Rebar Size: 25 mm diameter bar (#8 bar)
Conditions:
It's a vertical column bar, so it's not a top bar (ψt = 1.0).
The rebar is uncoated (ψe = 1.0).
The concrete is normal-weight (λ = 1.0).
Calculation (using SI / Metric units):
1. Choose the right formula: The bar diameter is 25 mm, which is > 20
mm. So we use: Ld = ( (fy * ψt * ψe) / (1.7 * λ * sqrt(f'c)) ) * db
2. Plug in the values: Ld = ( (420 * 1.0 * 1.0) / (1.7 * 1.0 * sqrt(28)) ) *
25
3. Solve:
sqrt(28) ≈ 5.29
Ld = ( 420 / (1.7 * 5.29) ) * 25
Ld = ( 420 / 8.993 ) * 25
Ld = 46.7 * 25
Ld ≈ 1168 mm (or 1.17 meters)
So, the standard tension development length (Ld) for this bar is
approximately 1170 mm.
Bringing it Back to Your SMRF Column Splice
Now, you take this calculated Ld and apply the rule for SMRF column lap
splices:
Splice Type: Class B Tension Splice
Required Lap Length: 1.3 * Ld
Calculation: 1.3 * 1170 mm = 1521 mm
So, for this specific example, the required lap splice length in the center of
your SMRF column would be approximately 1520 mm or 1.52 meters.