DEVELOPMENT LENGTH

CHAPTER 10
DEVELOPMENT LENGTH
10-1 Introduction

Development length, as defined by the NSCP, is the length of embedment of the steel
reinforcements in concrete to develop the full (yield) strength of the reinforcing bar which
simply is expressed by the formula

T = As f y

As shown in Fig. 10.1, the rebar under tension will be pulled out if the embedment is too short.

Bond Stress Bond

Stress

T
C

T
Bearing
Stress

Figure 10.1 Figure

10.2

Figure 10.3

Likewise, as shown in Fig. 10.2, a development length is also needed for compression bars. It
has to be noted that for tension bars, the tension force in the rebar will be transferred to concrete
through the bond stress between concrete and the rebar along the embedment length of the rebar.
However, for compression bars, there will be bearing stresses at the tip of the rebar. Therefore,
the required development length for compression rebars will be shorter.

In situations where there is not enough space for development length of straight bars, hooks are
employed to shorten the development length requirement as shown in Fig. 10.3.

As stated earlier, the transfer of the force is made possible through the bond stress between the
two materials. There are two types of bond stresses. The first is the chemical bond stress which
is the natural bonding between concrete and smooth round bars. However, this chemical bond
 DEVELOPMENT LENGTH

stress is weak and the tension rebar can easily be pulled out. The second type of bond stress is
T
the mechanical bond between the lugs of the deformed bars with concrete as shown in Fig. 10.4.
The mechanical bond is some sort of a bearing stress between steel and concrete and therefore is
quite strong. Thus, steel reinforcements for concrete construction are deformed bars.

From the above discussions, the development length is the extension of the rebar length from the
point where the designed rebar stress is equal to f y. It must be noted that adequate development
length must be provided in the two directionsFigure
from 10.4
this point where the rebar stress is supposedly
equal to f y. This is shown in Fig. 10.5. In Fig. 10.5, where you have a cantilever connected to a
column, then the stress of the rebar is assumed to bef y at the support or at the face of the column.
Therefore, l d shall be measured form the face of the column. If the length of the cantilever is not
enough, then the top bar will have to be provided with a hook at the free end. Also in Fig. 10.5, if

Figure 10.6

the rebar is framing into a column and the column dimesion is not enough to accommodate the

Figure 10.5

required development length l d, ordinarily a hook is provided l dh and the embedment in the
column should be such that the required l dh will be satisfied. Thus, the hook is commonly placed
at the far end of the column. Nevertheless, the dimension of the column must be checked to
ensure that the required l dh can be accommodated.
 DEVELOPMENT LENGTH

Another application of the development length is for lap splices as shown in Fig. 10.6.

10-2 Hooks

The details of hooks are discussed in section 425.3 of the NSCP. Table 425.3.1 gives the details
of the standard hook geometry for development of deformed bars in tension.

Type of Minimum inside Straight extension[1] l

Bar size Type of standard hook
standard hook bend diameter mm. ext mm.

10 mm Ø through 25
6db
mm Ø
28 mm Ø through 36
90-degree hook 8db 12db
mm Ø
40 mm Ø and 58 mm
10db
Ø  
10 mm Ø through 25
6db
mm
180-degree 28 mm Ø through 36 Greater of  4db
8db
hook mm Ø and 65 mm
40 mm Ø and 58 mm
10db
Ø  

In addition, Table 425.3.2 of the NSCP gives the details of the minimum inside bend diameters
and standard hook geometry for secondary bars (stirrups, ties and hooks).

Type of Minimum
Straìght extension[1] l
standar Bar size inside bend Type of standard hook
ext mm.
d hook diameter mm.

10 mm Ø through Greater of 46b and 75

4db 
16 mm Ø mm 
90-
degree
hook 20 mm Ø through
6db 12db 
25 mm Ø  

10 mm Ø through
4db 
16 mm Ø
135-
 Greater of 6b and 75
degree
mm 
hook
20 mm Ø through
6db
25 mm Ø
 DEVELOPMENT LENGTH

10 mm Ø through
4db 
16 mm Ø
180-
 Greater of 6b and 75
degree
mm 
hook
20 mm Ø through
6db
25 mm Ø

[1]
A standard hook for stirrups, ties, and hoops includes the specific inside bend diameter and straight extension
length. It shall be permitted to use longer straight extension at the end of a hook. A longer extension shall not be
considered to increase the anchorage capacity of the hook.

For the 135-degree hook, previous codes only specified 6db for the straight extension length l ext.
The 75 mm requirement for l ext was specified for seismic hooks. The same can be said for the
180 degree hook where the seismic hook requirement for l ext is 75 mm.

10-3 Factors

There are several factors that affect the required length to develop the full strength of the rebar.
These factors are discussed in the succeeding paragraphs.

In situations where there are several bars in a layer or there are several layers of rebars, the
available bond stress depends on the clear spacing between bars which in effect is filled with
concrete. If the bars are closely spaced, the amount of concrete in between the rebars will be
small such that the available bond stress will likewise be less. The amount of concrete from the
surface edge of the member to the rebar which is referred to by the NSCP as the “concrete cover”
will likewise affect the available concrete bond stress. In situations where the concrete cover is
too small, splitting cracks occur and manifest as longitudinal cracks directly below the location
of the rebars.

The size of the rebar is another factor to be considered since the full strength of the rebar is
proportional to its area or the square of the diameter or size. The grade or the yield strength of
the rebar (f y) is likewise a factor that is directly proportional to the full (yield) strength of the
rebar that needs to be developed.

Also, the concrete tensile strength is inversely proportional to the required development length.
Thus, the formulas for development length has √ f c, in the denominator since the concrete tensile
strength is directly proportional to √ f c,.

For concrete members with a depth greater than 300 mm, the solid aggregates during pouring
will settle towards the bottom. Therefore, the upper portion of the concrete member will be
weaker concrete and the bars near the top (greater than 300 mm from the bottom) will require a
longer development length. The NSCP specifies Ψ t as the location factor to address this issue.

In construction, sometimes there are situations where there is a considerable lull between
concreting stages. In this situation, the rebars are exposed until the next stage of concreting is
 DEVELOPMENT LENGTH

carried out. If this lull of time is considerable, the rebars are sometimes protected from corrosion
by painting with epoxy paint. However, when the concreting is completed, the bond between
concrete and the steel rebar is lessened because they are separated by the epoxy paint layer. The
code introduces a coating factor Ψ e for this issue.

Lightweight concrete is weaker than normal weight concrete. Thus, the factor λ is introduced by
the NSCP not only for development lengths but throughout the Chapter 4 of the NSCP for
Structural Concrete.

Ordinarily, there is an excess in the amount of the reinforcing bars compared to the calculated
requirements from the design. The excess area of reinforcements provided will result to lower
stresses in the rebars at the ultimate stage (i.e. the rebar stress is less than f y). Consequently, the
required development length can be lessened by multiplying with ratio A s , provided / A s ,required , as
provided by NSCP 425.4.10.1.

10-4 Tension Bar Development Length, l d

The formulas for the development length of main bars in tension are given in Table 425.4.2.2 in
NSCP.

20 mm Ø and smaller bars and

Spacing and cover 25 mm Ø and larger bars
deformed bars
Clear spacing of bars or wires being
developed or lap spliced not less
than db, clear cover at least db, and
stirrups or ties throughout db not f yΨ t Ψe f yΨ t Ψe
less than the Code minimum,
or ( ) d
2.1 λ √ f c ' b ( ) d
1.7 λ √ f c ' b
Clear spacing of bars or wires being
developed or lap spliced at least 2db
and clear cover at least db
f y ΨtΨe f yΨ t Ψe
Other cases
( ) d
1.4 λ √ f c ' b ( ) d
1.1 λ √ f c ' b

Where:

d b – bar diameter λ – factor for lightweight concrete

f y – bar yield stress Ψ t – location factor

f c ' – concrete 28-day strength Ψ e – coating factor

The modification factors for tension bars are given in Table 425.4.2.4

Modification Factor Condition Value of Factor

Lightweight concrete 0.75
Lightweight Lightweight concrete, where f ct is In accordance with Section
λ specified 419.2.4.3
Normal-weight concrete 1.0
 DEVELOPMENT LENGTH

Epoxy-coated or zinc and epoxy

dual-coated reinforcement with
clear cover less than 3d b or clear 1.5
spacing less than 6d b
Epoxy[1]
Epoxy-coated or zinc and epoxy
Ψe
dual-coated reinforcement for all 1.2
other conditions
Uncoated or zinc-coated
1.0
(galvanized) reinforcement

Size 25 mm Ø and larger bars 1.0

Ψs 20 mm Ø and smaller bars and
0.8
deformed bars
More than 300 mm. of fresh
Casting position[1] concrete placed below horizontal 1.3
Ψt reinforcement
Other 1.0
[1]
The product Ψ t Ψ e should not exceed 1.7.

10-5 Hook Development Length, l dh

The required development length for hooks of deformed bars in tension is described in Article
425.4.3.1 of the NSCP. There are three requirements listed and the greater value among the three
is to be adapted.

f yΨe ΨcΨ r
a.
( )
d
4.17 λ √ f c ' b
b. 8 d b
c. 150 mm

The modification factors for hooks discussed above are found in Table 425.4.3.2.

Modification Factor Condition Value of factor

Lightweight concrete 0.75
Lightweight Lightweight concrete, where f ct is In accordance with Section
λ specified 419.2.4.3
Normal-weight concrete 1.0
Epoxy-coated or zinc and epoxy
Epoxy dual-coated reinforcement for all 1.2
other conditions
Ψe
Uncoated or zinc-coated
1.0
(galvanized) reinforcement
For 36 mm Ø bar and smaller hooks
with side cover (normal to plane of
Cover hook) ≥ 65 mm. and for 90-degree 0.7
Ψc hook with cover on bar extension
beyond hook ≥ 50 mm.
Other 1.0
Confining reinforcement For 90-degree hooks of 36 mm Ø 0.8
Ψr and smaller bars
1. enclosed along l dh within
ties or stirrups[1]
 DEVELOPMENT LENGTH

perpendicular to l dh at
s ≤3 d b or
2. enclosed along the bar
extension beyond hook
including the bend within
ties or stirrups[1]
perpendicular to l ext at
s ≤3 d b

Other 1.0
[1]
The first tie or stirrup shall enclose the bent portion of the hook within 2d b of the outside of the bend.

[2]
d b is the nominal diameter of the hooked bar.

10-6 Compression Bar Development Length, l dc

The required development length l dh for deformed bars in compression shall be the greater of a
through c.

0.24 f y Ψ r
a.
( λ √f c' ) db

b. 0.043 f y Ψ r d b
c. 200 mm

The applicable modification factors for the above compression bars development length is given
in table 425.4.9.3 of the NSCP.

Modification Factor Condition Value of factor

Lightweight concrete 0.75
Lightweight Lightweight concrete, where f ct is In accordance with Section
λ specified 419.2.4.3
Normal-weight concrete 1.0
Confining reinforcement Reinforcement enclosed within (1),
Ψr (2), (3) or (4):
1. a spiral
2. a circular continuously
wound tie with d b ≥ 6 mm
in. and pitch ≤ 100 mm
3. 6 mm Ø bar or MD130 0.75
wire ties in accordance
with Section 425.7.2
spaced ≤ 100 mm on
center
4. hoops in accordance with
Section 425.7.4 spaced ≤
100 mm on center
Other 1.0