SPLICING OF

REINFORCEMENT BARS
When the length of reinforcement bar has to be extended in reinforced
concrete structural member splicing is used to join two reinforcement
bars to transfer the force from one bar to the joining bar. The forces
are transferred from one bar to the other through bonds in concrete.
Force is first transferred to the concrete through bond from one bar
and then it is transferred to the other bar forming the splice through
bond between it and concrete. Thus concrete at the point of splicing is
subjected to high shear and splitting stresses which may cause cracks
in concrete.

Splicing of reinforcement bars are carried out by following

methods:

1. Lapping of bars

2. Mechanical joint

3. Welded joints

Examples of Splicing of Reinforcement Bars:

Fig: Splicing of Reinforcement Bar

 Fig: Stirrups at splicing points

Fig: Splicing of bar >36mm diameter

Fig: Mechanical Joint >36mm diameter

Fig: Butt welding of reinforcement bar

Fig: Lap welding of reinforcement bar

In India, the requirement of reinforcement bar splicing is covered in

IS456 cl.25.2.5. The code also specifies that the splicing of flexural
members should not be at sections where the bending moment is more
than 50% of the moment of resistance, and not more than 50% of
reinforcement bars should be spliced at any given section. The splicing
of bars should be carried out for alternate bars if more than one bar
has to be spliced.

Lap Splicing of Reinforcement Bars:

The important points to be noted while providing lap splices in

reinforcement bars:

1. Laps in reinforcement should always be staggered. The center to

center distances of laps should not be less than 1.3 times the required
lap length of the bars. The bars to be lapped should be provided either
vertically one above the other or horizontally one beside the other.

2. The total lap length of bars including bends, hooks etc. in flexural
tension should not be less than 30 times the diameter of the bar of the
full development length Ld as calculated, whichever is greater.

3. Lap length in direct tension should be 30 times diameter of bar (30

) or 2 Ld whichever is greater. Tension splices should be enclosed in
spirals made from 6mm bars with pitch not more than 100mm. Hooks
are also to be provided at the end of the tension bars.

4. Lap length is compression should be more than 24 or Ld in

compression. When columns are subjected to bending, lap length may
be also increased to the value in bending tension if the bar is found to
be in tension.

5. When two different diameters of bars have to be lapped, the lap

length should be calculated based on the diameter of the smaller bar.

6. Lap splicing of reinforcement bar more than 36mm in diameter

should be avoided. In case such bars have to be lapped then they
should be welded. When welding of cold bars is allowed, the special
instructions applicable to these bars should be followed.
7.Where the lapping of reinforcement bars have to be done in unusual
circumstances such as splicing in areas of large moments or more than
50% of the bars have to be spliced, additional closely spaced spirals
should be provided around the lapped bars and the length of lap
should be increased.

8.When bundled bars are to be spliced by lapping, one reinforcement

bar at a time is to be spliced and the splicing should be staggered.

9. If the general rules regarding laps cannot be obeyed in a

construction, special welded splices or mechanical connections should
be provided (Cl. 25.2.5.2 of IS 456).