Reinforcement Substitution
Reinforcement Substitution
(OP)
What is the opinion of substution of reinforcement bars for a reinforced concrete beam. The drawings call for 2 - 25M and 3 - 25M bottom bars, and the contractor wants to substitute one 25M bar (500mm2)with 3 - 15M bars(600mm2). There are the obvious issues of sufficient clearance for concrete to get through, etc, but is this an okay practice to substitute bars in a pinch?






RE: Reinforcement Substitution
There are other factors to consider before allowing substituting reinforcing bars.
Z crack factor
lap distances
bar clearances between bars
continuity
Substituting of bars should be reviewed by the designer.
RE: Reinforcement Substitution
If you are the engineer who will be reviewing this, it's up to you. As Sperling mentions, there are other things to consider besides simply providing an equal amount of steel area or more.
RE: Reinforcement Substitution