Designation: A970/A970M – 09

Standard Specification for

Headed Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A970/A970M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This specification covers deformed and plain steel 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
reinforcing bars in cut lengths, with a head attached to one or A370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
both ends, for concrete reinforcement. Attachment can be of Steel Products
accomplished through welding, by integrally hot forging of a A615/A615M Specification for Deformed and Plain
head from the reinforcing bar end, by internal threads in the Carbon-Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement
head mating to threads on the bar end, or by a separate threaded A700 Practices for Packaging, Marking, and Loading Meth-
nut to secure the head to the bar. Heads are forge formed, ods for Steel Products for Shipment
machined from bar stock, or cut from plate. A706/A706M Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Deformed
NOTE 1—This specification is applicable for headed bars produced with
and Plain Bars for Concrete Reinforcement
welded, threaded, or forged heads and used for reinforcement of concrete 2.2 AWS Standards:3
structures. The requirements of this specification are not applicable to AWS C6.1 Recommended Practices for Friction Welding
headed bars where the attachment of the head is accomplished by alternate AWS D1.4/D1.4M Structural Welding Code - Reinforcing
means. Steel
1.2 Limitations on head dimensions and on obstructions and 2.3 U.S. Military Standard:4
interruptions of bar deformations on the non-planar features on MIL-STD-129 Marking for Shipment and Storage
the bearing face of the head are presented in Annex A1. The 2.4 U.S. Federal Standard:4
requirements in Annex A1 only apply when specified by the Fed. Std. No. 123 Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies)
purchaser (see 4.1.13). 2.5 ACI Standard:5
1.3 This specification is applicable for orders in either SI ACI 318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Con-
units as Specification A970M or inch-pound units shown in the crete
text in brackets [Specification A970].
3. Terminology
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in 3.1 Definitions:
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each 3.1.1 forged headed bar—steel bar used in the reinforce-
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining ment of concrete that has the head(s) integrally forged to one or
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance both ends.
with the standard. 3.1.2 head—round, elliptical, or rectangular shape used to
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the anchor a steel bar in concrete.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.1.3 net bearing area—gross cross-sectional area of the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- head minus the nominal cross-sectional area of the deformed
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- reinforcing bar.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM customer service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
3
Available from American Welding Society (AWS), 550 NW LeJeune Rd.,
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM A01 on Steel, Stainless Miami, FL 33126, http://www.aws.org.
4
Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of A01.05 on Steel Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700
Reinforcement. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS. Or visit: http://
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2009. Published December 2009. Originally assist.daps.dla.mil/online.
5
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as A970/A970M – 07. Available from American Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington
DOI: 10.1520/A0970_A0970M-09. Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.concrete.org.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright (C) ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO box C-700 West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428-2959, United States
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Fri Sep 23 05:16:41 EDT 2011
1
Downloaded/printed by
University of California Berkeley Library pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 A970/A970M – 09

FIG. 1 Headed Reinforcing Bar

3.1.4 threaded headed bar—steel bar used in the reinforce- 5.3 The head dimensions shall be provided by the purchaser
ment of concrete that has the head(s) attached to one or both in the order. Head dimensions shall define the head geometry
ends using tapered or straight threads internal to the head or by including thickness, height and width of the head (Fig. 1).
a separate internally threaded nut securing the head to the Alternate head dimensions supplied by the manufacturer shall
threaded bar end. be permitted if agreed to in advance by the purchaser. The
3.1.5 welded headed bar—steel bar used in the reinforce- manufacturer shall furnish documentation to the purchaser, in
ment of concrete that has the head(s) welded to one or both the form of calculations or test reports, or both, that confirms
ends. the suitability of alternate head dimensions for the intended
application.
4. Ordering Information
NOTE 2—Alternate head dimensions resulting in a net bearing area less
4.1 It shall be the responsibility of the purchaser to specify than four times the area of the deformed reinforcing bar are not suitable
all requirements that are necessary for material ordered to this for use in construction projects governed by certain consensus building
specification. Such requirements shall include but are not codes and design standards (see 5.4 and Note 3).
limited to the following:
5.3.1 Head dimensions shall define the head geometry
4.1.1 Quantity;
including thickness, diameter or height and width of the head
4.1.2 Name of product: welded, forged, or threaded headed
(Fig. 1).
bars for the reinforcement of concrete;
5.4 When specified by the purchaser in the purchase order
4.1.3 Reinforcing bar specification and year of issue;
or contract as a class HA headed bar, head dimensions shall
4.1.4 Bar size;
meet the requirements of Annex A1.
4.1.5 Deformed or plain bars;
4.1.6 Head geometry, including thickness, diameter or NOTE 3—The requirements for head dimensions in Annex A1 are
height and width of the head; mandated by certain consensus building codes and design standards, for
4.1.7 Head material specification and year of issue for example, 9Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete
(ACI 318).9
welded head bars (5.2.1);
4.1.8 Bend testing of welded headed bars in sizes No. 36, 5.5 Welding—A welding procedure conforming to
43, and 57 [11, 14, and 18] (6.4.1); AWS D1.4/D1.4M shall be used for all required production
4.1.9 Number of heads per bar length; welding of the head to the bar, except for friction welding that
4.1.10 Length of bar assembly; shall conform to AWS C6.1 in conjunction with the manufac-
4.1.11 Packaging; turer’s QA/QC procedures.
4.1.12 ASTM designation and year of issue; and 5.6 Forging—For integrally forged headed bars, the heads
4.1.13 Optional requirements of Annex A1, if applicable. shall be produced by deforming the bar ends in a hot-forging
process.
5. Material and Manufacture 5.7 Threading:
5.1 Reinforcing Bars—For welded headed bars, the rein- 5.7.1 Threads on bars shall be either tapered or straight. The
forcing bars shall conform to Specification A706/A706M. For head shall either thread onto the bar directly, or it shall be held
forged headed bars or threaded headed bars, the reinforcing on the bar end by a nut and counternut. Thread specifications
bars shall conform to Specification A615/A615M or A706/ and standards shall be selected by the manufacturer unless
A706M, as specified by the purchaser. otherwise agreed with the purchaser.
5.2 Heads: 5.7.2 The out-of-roundness in the rolled reinforcing bar
5.2.1 For welded and threaded headed bars, the head mate- shall be evaluated so that the manufacturer’s minimum thread
rial shall be selected by the manufacturer. dimensions are maintained.

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Fri Sep 23 05:16:41 EDT 2011
2
Downloaded/printed by
University of California Berkeley Library pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 A970/A970M – 09
5.7.3 It shall be permissible to hot- or cold-roll, or machine TABLE 1 Bend Test Requirements
cut, threads into the surface of the bar and heads at the option Bar Designation Mandrel Diameter
of the manufacturer. 10, 13 and 16 [3, 4, and 5] 3dA
19, 22 and 25 [6, 7, and 8] 4d
6. Mechanical Test and Performance Requirements 29, 32 and 36 [9, 10, and 11] 6d
43 and 57 [14 and 18] 8d
6.1 Headed bars shall be subjected to mechanical tests to
A
d = nominal diameter of bar
verify production method and product quality prior to manu-
facture. Mechanical testing also shall be performed at intervals
during production. dimensions for bend testing are prescribed in Table 1. The
6.2 Tensile Tests: centerline of the bend test mandrel shall be placed at the
6.2.1 Tensile testing of the headed bar assembly shall be intersection of the reinforcing bar and the weld, as shown in
performed in accordance with the requirements described in Fig. 2.
Test Methods and Definitions A370. Failure mode shall be 6.4.4 Specimen Preparation—Bend test specimens shall be
reported as partial or total fracture of the bar, the head, or the the full cross-section of the bar with a head attached to one end
head-to-bar connection. of the reinforcing bar. Where the welded head interferes with
6.2.2 Specimen Preparation—Tensile test specimens shall placement of the bend test mandrel, sufficient head material
be the full cross-section of the bar with a head attached to one and any excess material associated with the welding process
end of the reinforcing bar. The minimum length of the test shall be removed along one edge of the reinforcing bar to
specimen shall be the greater of 250 mm [10 in.] or ten times provide a flat surface on the specimen for the bend mandrel.
the nominal diameter of the bar. The test specimen shall be This preparation shall ensure that the contact point of the bend
placed in the testing machine with the head supported to mandrel is directly at the base of the reinforcing bar diameter
prevent movement and bending of the head. Provisions shall be as shown in Fig. 2.
made for clearance between the support and any weld or
forming material on the reinforcing bar-to-head connection. 7. Frequency of Testing
The opposite bar end of the bar, without a head attached, shall 7.1 Number of Tests:
be gripped by the testing machine and loaded to failure. 7.1.1 Pre-Production—Prior to production, a testing pro-
6.3 Tensile Requirements: gram shall be undertaken that includes two bend tests and two
6.3.1 Tensile Properties—The tensile properties of the test tensile tests for welded headed bars, and two tensile tests for
specimen shall conform to one of the following classes: forged or threaded headed bars. The tests shall be repeated for
6.3.1.1 Class A—Develop the minimum specified tensile each combination of head and bar material specification, grade
strength of the reinforcing bar. or type, and welding, threading, or forging process.
6.3.1.2 Class B—Develop the minimum specified tensile 7.1.2 Production—It shall be permissible to use either the
strength and the minimum specified elongation of the reinforc- tensile test prescribed in 6.3, or the bend test prescribed in 6.4
ing bar. to verify the production method and product quality. A mini-
NOTE 4—Reference Specifications A615/A615M and A706/A706M
mum of two tests shall be conducted during the production
requirements for minimum reinforcing bar tensile properties. Class A has shift or period. One test at the start and one test at the end of
been introduced for applications that only require the development of the each 8-h shift or less than 8-h production period or at random
minimum tensile strength of the reinforcing bar. The Class B criteria intervals during the production period shall be conducted.
requires the head and the head-to-bar connection to meet or exceed the 7.1.2.1 In the event different heats of head or bar material,
minimum specified tensile strength and the minimum specified elongation or both, within the same material specification are used to
requirements of the reinforcing bar. In the previous criteria, the failure of
produce welded, threaded, or forged headed bars during a
the head or the head-to-bar connection within the attachment region was
cause for rejection. production run, a minimum of two tensile tests in accordance
with 6.3 or two bend tests in accordance with 6.4 shall be
6.4 Bend Test Requirements: conducted to verify the production method, product quality,
6.4.1 Only welded headed bars in sizes No. 10 to 32 [3 to and welding, forging, or threading quality or weldability of the
10] shall be subject to bend testing. Bend testing of welded heats of materials prior to continuing production.
headed bars in sizes No. 36, 43, and 57 [11, 14, and 18] shall 7.2 Retests:
be subject to agreement between the purchaser and manufac- 7.2.1 Pre-Production—Any identified procedural or perfor-
turer. mance deficiencies shall be corrected and pre-production
NOTE 5—Serious safety issues may be involved in performing bend testing repeated until the tensile and bend test results meet the
tests on welded headed bars in sizes No. 36, 43, and 57 [11, 14, and 18]. performance requirements of this specification.
Thus, 6.4 requires such bend testing to be subject to agreement between 7.2.2 Production—For welded headed bars, when partial or
the purchaser and manufacturer. total fracture(s) of the bend or tensile test specimens occur(s)
6.4.2 Procedure—The test specimen shall be bent around a in the weld, the production lot shall be rejected and a retest
mandrel of suitable diameter to an angle of at least 90° with no shall be conducted as shown in 7.2.2.1 or 7.2.2.3. During
observed partial or total fracture of the head, the bar, or the production tests of welded, forged, or threaded bars, if any
head-to-bar connection. tensile test specimen fails to not meet the requirements for
6.4.3 Bend Test Mandrel—The mandrel shall be placed so tensile properties in 6.3.1, the production lot shall be retested
as to directly bend the welded region. The required mandrel as shown in 7.2.2.1. For threaded components used to assemble

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Fri Sep 23 05:16:41 EDT 2011
3
Downloaded/printed by
University of California Berkeley Library pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 A970/A970M – 09
deemed necessary. Unless otherwise specified, any rejection
based on tests made in accordance with this specification shall
be reported to the manufacturer within five working days from
the receipt of samples by the purchaser.
10.2 Material that does not meet the requirements of this
specification subsequent to its acceptance at the manufacturer’s
facilities shall be subject to rejection, and the manufacturer
shall be promptly notified.
FIG. 2 Bend Test Specimen Mandrel Configuration
11. Rehearing
the threaded headed bars, if thread dimensions are found not to 11.1 Samples tested in accordance with this specification
meet the manufacturer’s specifications for the thread, the that represent rejected material shall be preserved for two
production lot shall be rejected. weeks from the date rejection is reported to the manufacturer.
7.2.2.1 If the result of a tension test fails to meet the In case of dissatisfaction with the results of the test, the
requirements for tensile properties in 6.3.1, then a retest shall manufacturer shall make claim for a rehearing within that time.
be allowed. Two specimens taken at random from the produc-
tion lot shall be tested during a retest. Both specimens shall 12. Documentation
pass the tension test requirements of Section 6, or the produc- 12.1 A manufacturer’s product certificate shall accompany
tion lot shall be rejected. headed bars when they are shipped from the manufacturer’s
7.2.2.2 If any test specimen fails because of mechanical facilities.
reasons, such as failure of the testing equipment or from flaws
caused by specimen preparation, shipment, or other damage 13. Test Reports
unrelated to manufacturing or testing, it shall be discarded and 13.1 For welded headed bars, a test report shall be furnished
another specimen from the same production lot substituted. by the manufacturer containing on a per heat basis the chemical
7.2.2.3 If a bend test fails for reasons other than mechanical analysis of the bar and of the head material, including all
reasons or flaws in the specimen, as described in 7.2.2.2, a elements represented in the carbon equivalent formula of
retest shall be permitted on two random specimens from the Specification A706/A706M, in addition to phosphorus and
same production lot. If the results of both test specimens meet sulfur.
the specified requirements, the lot shall be accepted. 13.2 A test report shall be required of the manufacturer for
the production of headed bar assemblies as described in
8. Finish Section 6, including the failure mode. A copy of the test report
8.1 Rust, surface irregularities, or mill scale shall not be shall be provided to the purchaser upon request.
cause for rejection, provided the dimensions, cross-sectional 13.3 A material test report, certificate of inspection, or
area, and tensile properties of a hand wire brushed specimen similar document printed from or used in electronic form from
are not less than the requirements of this specification. an electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission shall be
regarded as having the same validity as a counterpart printed in
9. Inspection the certifier’s facility. The content of the EDI transmitted
9.1 The inspector representing the purchaser shall have free document must meet the requirements of the invoked ASTM
entry while work on the contract of the purchaser is being standard(s) and conform to any existing EDI agreement be-
performed to the parts of the manufacturer’s facilities that tween the purchaser and the supplier. Notwithstanding the
concern manufacture of the material ordered. The manufac- absence of a signature, the organization submitting the EDI
turer shall afford the inspector reasonable access to the facili- transmission is responsible for the content of the report.
ties to satisfy the inspector that the materials and procedures
NOTE 6—The industry definition as invoked here is: EDI is the
are in accordance with this specification. Inspection at the computer-to-computer exchange of business information in a standard
place of manufacture shall be conducted so as not to interfere format such as ANSI ASC X12.
unnecessarily with the operation of the manufacturer’s facili-
ties. 14. Marking
9.2 For Government Procurement Only—Except as other- 14.1 Each manufacturer shall identify the symbols of their
wise specified in the contract, the manufacturer shall be marking system.
responsible for the performance of inspection and test require- 14.2 All headed bars produced under this specification shall
ments specified herein, unless otherwise agreed by the pur- be identified by a distinguishing set of marks legibly stamped
chaser at the time of purchase, and shall use the purchaser’s onto the flat outer side of the head, away from the bar, to denote
own or other suitable facilities for the performance of the the following:
inspection and test requirements specified herein. 14.2.1 Point of Origin—Letter(s) or symbol(s) established
as the manufacturer’s designation.
10. Rejection 14.2.2 Type of Headed Reinforcing Bar—Letter T indicating
10.1 The purchaser shall have the right to perform any of that the welded, threaded, or forged headed bar was produced
the inspections and tests as set forth in this specification as to this specification.

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Fri Sep 23 05:16:41 EDT 2011
4
Downloaded/printed by
University of California Berkeley Library pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 A970/A970M – 09

FIG. A1.1 Maximum Dimensions of Obstruction or Interruptions of Bar Deformations and Non-Planar Features of the Bearing Surface

15. Packaging 16. Keywords

15.1 When specified in the purchase order, packaging shall 16.1 carbon-steel reinforcing bars; concrete reinforcement;
be in accordance with the procedures in Practices A700. deformations (protrusions); headed reinforcement; headed re-
15.2 For Government Procurement Only—When specified inforcing bars; integrally-forged headed reinforcing bars; low-
in the contract or order and for direct procurement by or direct alloy steel reinforcing bars; threaded headed reinforcing bars;
shipment to the U.S. government, marking for shipment, in welded headed reinforcing bars
addition to requirements specified in the contract or order, shall
be in accordance with MIL-STD-129 for military agencies and
Fed. Std. No. 123 for civil agencies.

ANNEX

(Mandatory Information)

A1. REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS HA HEAD DIMENSIONS

INTRODUCTION

The following requirements shall apply only when specified in the purchase order or contract.
When specified, this Annex A1 replaces 5.3, 6.3.1.1, and 14.2.2 with the following.

A1.1 Replacement Requirements for 5.3 A1.1.1.5 Obstructions or interruptions of the bar deforma-
A1.1.1 Head dimensions for headed bars conforming to tions and non-planar features on the bearing face of the head
Class HA shall be provided by the purchaser in the purchase shall not extend more than two nominal bar diameters from the
order. bearing face and shall not have a diameter greater than 1.5
A1.1.1.1 Head dimensions shall define the head geometry nominal bar diameters (Fig. A1.1). Such obstructions shall not
including thickness, diameter or height and width of the head be considered to detract from the net bearing area of the head.
(Fig. 1). Obstructions exceeding any of these limits are not permitted.
A1.1.1.2 Class HA head dimensions shall comply with
A1.1.1.3 through A1.1.1.5. A1.2 Replacement Requirements for 6.3.1.1
A1.1.1.3 The net bearing area of the head shall not be less A1.2.1 Class HA—Develop the minimum specified tensile
than four times the nominal area of the bar. The net bearing strength of the reinforcing bar.
area of bars meeting the requirements of this annex is the gross
area of the head minus the area of the deformed reinforcing bar A1.3 Replacement Requirements for 14.2.2
A1.1.1.4 The bearing face shall consist of a single, nomi- A1.3.1 Type of Headed Reinforcing Bar—Letter H indicat-
nally flat surface that lies in a plane perpendicular to the ing that the welded, threaded, or forged headed bar was
longitudinal axis of the bar. produced to this Annex A1.

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Fri Sep 23 05:16:41 EDT 2011
5
Downloaded/printed by
University of California Berkeley Library pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 A970/A970M – 09

APPENDIXES

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. SPECIFICATION PHILOSOPHY FOR HEADED REINFORCING BARS

X1.1 The requirements for headed reinforcing bars are required to establish that the head will stay attached to the bar
based on the application of welding, threading, or forging to under severe loading and that failure will not occur in the
attach a head to one or both ends of a standard reinforcing bar. connection region of the specimen. These testing requirements
To achieve consistent performance of the attached head by are designed to test both the preproduction headed bars as well
welding, the bar material is limited to Specification A706/ as actual production products to verify that Class B head-to-bar
A706M so as to require a bar with a controlled chemical connection is as strong as the parent head and bar materials and
composition to be used. that the connection has sufficient ductility.
X1.2 In the case of forged headed bars, the head(s) is X1.6 The head shall be dimensioned to be capable of
produced by integrally hot forging the head from the bar. The resisting the nominal tensile strength of the reinforcing bar
chemical composition requirements of the bar for a forging when the welded, threaded, or forged headed reinforcing bar is
operation are such that low-alloy steel or carbon steels can be embedded in the concrete. Nominal head dimensions were
used. Thus, integrally forged headed bars are allowed to use previously provided to inform manufacturers of these systems
either Specifications A615/A615M or A706/A706M bar mate- as to typical head dimensions. The head dimensions found in
rial. editions prior to 2004 of this specification are not included in
the current version. The anchorage of the bar via the head
X1.3 For headed reinforcing bars with threaded heads, two provides the shortest tensile development length possible and
options exist. The head may be internally threaded so that it essentially means that the headed bar is immediately anchored.
directly screws on the threaded bar end. The other option is for No nominal head dimensions are now provided in the specifi-
the head to have a non-threaded hole so that the head is held on cation making the determination of the head dimensions the
the bar end by a nut and a counternut. In either case the threads responsibility of the designer, purchaser, or manufacturer.
should be carefully cut or rolled so that the engagement of the Designers should be cognizant that the head sizes must be
threads results in a uniform load in the head-to-bar connection. evaluated to ensure that adequate anchorage is provided, that
For machine straight threads, additional quality inspection of the steel and concrete stresses are not excessive for the
the reinforcing steel will be required to eliminate bars that may loadings, and that the detailing of the connection is consistent
be excessively out of round. Individual manufacturers will with the intended usage. Nominal head dimensions historically
have to establish their own standards for the out-of-roundness have called for gross head area to be ten times the bar area with
that can be tolerated with their particular threading system. the net bearing area of the head to be nine times the bar area.
X1.4 Research has shown that the head can provide The head dimensions provided in previous editions of this
adequate anchorage of the reinforcing bar in concrete when the specification were shown by extensive testing to provide
anchorage is properly detailed. Designers are cautioned to headed bars that can resist the nominal tensile strength of the
consult the specific design code as to the use of headed bars to bar without failure of the head or crushing of the concrete
ensure that the detailing rules are employed. under the head. Designers, purchasers, and manufacturers who
have no other information regarding head proportioning may
X1.5 Tensile and bend testing of Class B headed bars are refer to these dimensions as a starting point.

X2. TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR HEADED BARS

X2.1 The production of headed bars that can meet the X2.3 Bend testing of the completed assemblies of welded
performance requirements of this specification require a num- headed bars will be required to meet the requirement of this
ber of tests to be conducted prior to and during production of specification since the head-to-bar connection itself must be
these assemblies. tested.

X2.2 The requirements of Section 6 state that there are X2.4 Metallurgical and hardness tests are strongly recom-
specific tensile property levels that must be achieved by the mended for diagnostic purposes prior to production of headed
headed bar assembly. Class A headed steel bars ensure that the bars, and especially those with welded or forged heads. One
specific minimum tensile strength of the reinforcement is metallographic examination and hardness survey should be
developed. Whereas, Class B headed steel bars ensure that the carried out on a section of the head and welded or forged zone.
tensile strength of the actual bar is achieved along with the This examination and survey should be used for diagnostic
specified minimum elongation requirements. purposes in the event that later production testing reveals

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Fri Sep 23 05:16:41 EDT 2011
6
Downloaded/printed by
University of California Berkeley Library pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 A970/A970M – 09
unacceptable tension or bend test performance. The test speci- important parameters to record include force, temperature,
men for hardness testing should be obtained by cutting a revolutions, or other elements of the production process. The
headed bar in half along the longitudinal axis of the bar to data on this in-process monitoring should be recorded and
expose two symmetric sections consisting of the head, the preserved by the manufacturer for a minimum of one year after
welded or forged zone, and a minimum two bar diameter length manufacture of the welded headed bars.
of bar beyond the head-to-bar interface. This type of diagnostic
examination should be conducted prior to continuous produc- X2.6 The manufacturer should maintain a complete record
tion for each combination of bar and head materials that will be and traceability of production and materials used in the
produced. The information obtained can be essential in elimi- production of headed bars. The records to be maintained
nating problems with strength or ductility of the welded or
include, but are not limited to, certificates for bar and head
forged head-to-bar connection, or both.
materials, date and number of components produced, and test
X2.5 When automated equipment performs welding opera- and inspection records. The information should be traceable to
tions for welded headed bars, it is recommended that all such specific production runs. Such documentation and records
equipment be fitted with an effective in-process monitoring should be preserved at the manufacturer’s facilities for a
system to record essential production parameters that describe minimum of one year after manufacture of the headed bars,
the process of welding of the head onto the reinforcing bar. The unless otherwise specified by the purchaser.

X3. HEADED REINFORCING BARS IN PRACTICE

X3.1 Test results obtained in Europe and North America structural members are now under development by various
show that anchorages can be designed so that the headed bar is researchers and manufacturers of headed bars. In addition, the
immediately anchored by the head alone and that the assembly Structural Concrete Building Code Committee of the American
has essentially no development length required. Concrete Institute is currently working on developing design
and detailing provisions for the use of headed bars in concrete
X3.2 Designers using these headed bars should be aware
structures. These rules will provide designers with appropriate
that application of prudent structural detailing concepts, in-
guidance for the design of structures using headed reinforcing
cluding use of transverse reinforcement for confinement,
bars so that the anchorages remain ductile, even under earth-
should result in strong, ductile anchorages. Specific recommen-
quake loading.
dations for design using headed reinforcing bars in actual

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(A970/A970M – 07) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Nov. 15, 2009.)

(1) Added 1.2, 2.5, 3.1.3, 4.1.13, 5.3.1, and 5.4. (3) Added Annex A1.
(2) Added Note 2 and Note 3. (4) Revised 4.1.6.

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or service@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secured from the ASTM website (www.astm.org/
COPYRIGHT/).

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Fri Sep 23 05:16:41 EDT 2011
7
Downloaded/printed by
University of California Berkeley Library pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.