Design Parameters for Longitudinal Bars (Beams: BS 8110) Page 1 of 4

Design Parameters for Longitudinal Bars (Beams: BS 8110)

For each of these parameters, the user defined limits (specified in Design Options > Beam >
Reinforcement Settings) are considered in addition to any BS 8110 recommendations.

Minimum Distance between Bars

To allow you to make decisions regarding access for concrete compaction or size of aggregate, a
value for the minimum clear distance between bars is specified in Design Options > Beam >
Reinforcement Settings ­ separate values being set for bars in the top of the beam and for
those in the bottom of the beam.

The minimum clear horizontal distance between individual parallel bars, scl,min, is given by;1

scl,min ≥ MAX[hagg + 5mm, scl,u,min]

where

hagg = maximum size of coarse aggregate

scl,u,min = user specified minimum clear distance between bars

The minimum clear vertical distance between horizontal layers of parallel bars, scl,min, is given by;

scl,min ≥ 2hagg/3

IF

φ > hagg + 5mm,

THEN

scl,min > φ

where

φ = the maximum diameter of bar

Maximum Spacing of Tension Bars

When the maximum crack width is limited to 0.3mm and nominal cover to reinforcement does
not exceed 50 mm,

scl,max ≤ 47000/fs ≤ 300mm

where

scl,max = maximum clear horizontal distance between bars in tension

fs = the design service stress in the tension reinforcement of a

memberA

fs = (5*fy *As req)/(8*As prov) * (1/βb)

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Design Parameters for Longitudinal Bars (Beams: BS 8110) Page 2 of 4

As req = required area of tension reinforcement

As prov = provided area of tension reinforcement

βb = (moment at the section after redistribution) / (moment at

the section before redistribution)

A
BS 8110­1:1997 equation 8

In Tekla Structural Designer when designing to BS 8110 the value of crack width is
limited to 0.3mm.

Minimum Area of Reinforcement

The minimum area of longitudinal tension reinforcement, As,min, is given by;A

a) For rectangular sections:

As,min ≥ 0.0024*b*h (For fy = 250 N/mm2)

As,min ≥ 0.0013*b*h (For fy = 500 N/mm2)

b) For flanged beams, web in tension:

i) bw/b ˂ 0.4

As,min ≥ 0.0032*bw*h (For fy = 250 N/mm2)

As,min ≥ 0.0018*bw*h (For fy = 500 N/mm2)

ii) bw/b ≥ 0.4

As,min ≥ 0.0024*bw*h (For fy = 250 N/mm2)

As,min ≥ 0.0013*bw*h (For fy = 500 N/mm2)

c) For flanged beams, flange in tension:

i) T beam

As,min ≥ 0.0048*bw*h (For fy = 250 N/mm2)

As,min ≥ 0.0026*bw*h (For fy = 500 N/mm2)

ii) L beam

As,min ≥ 0.0036*bw*h (For fy = 250 N/mm2)

As,min ≥ 0.002*bw*h (For fy = 500 N/mm2)

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Design Parameters for Longitudinal Bars (Beams: BS 8110) Page 3 of 4

A
BS 8110­1:1997 3.12.5.3, Table 3.25

The minimum area of longitudinal compression reinforcement, As’,min, is given by;

a) For rectangular sections:

As’,min ≥ 0.002*b*h (For fy = 250 N/mm2)

As’,min ≥ 0.002*b*h (For fy = 500 N/mm2)

b) For flanged beam:

i) Flange in compression

As’,min ≥ 0.004*b*hf (For fy = 250 N/mm2)

As’,min ≥ 0.004*b*hf (For fy = 500 N/mm2)

ii) Web in compression

As’,min ≥ 0.002*bw*h (For fy = 250 N/mm2)

As’,min ≥ 0.002*bw*h (For fy = 500 N/mm2)

where

b = breadth of section

bw = breadth or effective breadth of the rib for T or L section,

average breadth of the concrete below the flange

fy = characteristic strength of reinforcement

h = overall depth of the cross­section of a reinforced member

hf = depth of flange

The minimum percentage of reinforcement is given in Table 3.25 of BS 8110­1:1997

for fy 250 Mpa and 500 Mpa. For other grades linear interpolation is
applied.

Maximum Area of Reinforcement

The maximum area of longitudinal tension reinforcement, As,max, is given by2;

As,max ≤ 0.04*Ac

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Design Parameters for Longitudinal Bars (Beams: BS 8110) Page 4 of 4

The maximum area of longitudinal compression reinforcement, As’,max, is given by;

As’,max ≤ 0.04*Ac

where

Ac = the cross sectional area of the beam

= h*b (For rectangular section)

= h*bw (For flanged section)

Parent topic
• Beam Design to BS 8110

1. BS 8110­1:1997 3.12.11.1
2. BS 8110­1:1997 3.12.6.1

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