Beam Side Reinforcements

Beam Side Reinforcements Guide

Beam side reinforcements are provided for beams to avoid cracking with the increase of the beam size. When the depth of the beam increases, tensile stresses in the side face of the beams also increasing. In addition, with the increase of the volume of the concrete, it is required to provide some reinforcements to control the cracking of the beams.

BS 8110 Part 01 provides a guide for the procedure to be followed when the diameter of the reinforcement was found based on the bar spacing, characteristic strength of the reinforcements, and width & height of the beam.

The following equation is given in the BS 8110, Part 01 Clause 3.12.5.4 shall be used to calculate the minimum bar diameter.

Minimum bar diameter  = √(s_bb/f_y)

Where
s_b  = pacing of the side reinforcements
b   = width of the beam or 500mm when width increases 500mm

The spacing of the reinforcements shall not be greater than 250mm and they shall be provided 2/3 of the height of the beam measured from the tension face of the beam.