Regulatory Guide 1.15

Testing of Reinforcing Bars for Category I Concrete Structures

ML13350A368
Person / Time
Issue date:	12/28/1972
From:	US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
To:
References
RG-1.015, Rev. 1
Download: ML13350A368 (2)

Revision I12/28/72U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

.REGULATORY

GUIDEDIRECTORATE

OF REGULATORY

STANDARDS

REGULATORY

GUIDE 1.15TESTING OF REINFORCING

BARS FOR CATEGORY

ICONCRETE

STRUCTURES'

A. INTRODUCTION

General Design Criterion I of Appendix A it) 10ClFR Part 50, "General Design Criteria for NuclearPower Plants,"

requires that structures, systems andcomponents important to safety be designed.

fabricated.

erected, and tested to quality standards commensurate with the importance of the safety function to beperformed.

This guide describes an acceptable methodfor implementing this criterion with regard to tests andinspections of reinforcing bars for Category I concretestructures.

2 The Advisory Committee on ReactorSafeguards has been consulted concerning this guide andhas concurred in the regulatory position.

B. DISCUSSION

The tensile strength of concrete structures important to safety depends upon reinforcing barsimbedded in the concrete.

The contribution of theconcrete to the tensile strength of the structure isminimal and :hus generally disregarded.

The tensilestrength of reinforcing bars is usually tested inaccordance with ASTM A-615-72.

"Standard Specification for Deformed Billet-Steel Bars forConcrete Reinforcement",

American Society for Testingand Materials.

This specification permits the tensile testspecimens to be either of full bar diameter or of areduced diameter.

Comparison of test data obtainedwith both full bar diameter and reduced diameterThis guide is a revision of former Safety Guide IS. As such,it is applicable to water-cooled nuclear power reactors.

tSt'ructures, systems, and components of a nuclear powerplant are designated as Category I if they are designed towithstand the effects of the Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE)and remain functional.

See Safety Guide 29, "Seismic DesignClassification."

specimens indicates that the tensile and yield strengths of the full diameter bars may be lower than the ValIe.,,that ate obtained using reduced diameter

-pcinieis.

Thevariatinns are generally greater in bar size, No. 14 andlarger. Thus, the evaluation of the desigii margin titsafety in the slrticture may not be conservative if it isbased upon test results obtained from teduced diameterspecimens.

ASTM A-615-72 requires only one tension testspecimen per heat if all bars from a single heat differ insize by less than three designation numbers:

only twospecimens are required in other cases. Because each heatmay contain from 50 to 250 tons of steel, the fractionof the reinforcing bars that are tested may vary by afactor of 5. A more consistent basis for sampling can heobtained by choosing the test specimens on the basis ,,1the number of reinforcing bars or the weight ofreinforcing.

Special chemistry requirements have occasionally been placed on somne reinforcing bars. and checks shouldbe made that any such requirements are being met.Since some mechanical splice configurations mayrequire deformations that exceed the minlimumrequirements set forth in ASTM A-615-72.

it isimpertant to inspect the deformations it) assute thatthey will permit a reliable mechanical splice to le made.C. REGULATORY

POSITIONI. Yield Strength and Tensile Strength TestsReinforcing bars used for concrete structures important to safety should be tested to verify their yieldstrength and tensile strength

-,3 follows:USAEC REGULATORY

GUIDES Copies of published guides may be obtained by request ndicating the divisions desired to the US. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington.

O.C. 20545.Regulatory GAides ate issued to describe and mrAke available to the public Attention:

Director of Regulato'y Standards.

Comrents and suggestions to'methods accptrible to the AEC Regulatory staff of implementing specific pars of irrtIOVeMOInts in these guides are encouraged and should be sent to the Secretary the Commission's regulations, to delineate techniques used by the staff in of the Commission.

US. Atomic Energy Commission.

Washington, D.C. 20545,evaluating uJlecific problems or postulated accidents, or to provide guidance to Attention;

Chief. Public Proceedings Stall.applicantls.

Regulatory Guides are not substitutes for regulations and compliance with them is not required.

Methods and solutions different from those set Out in The guides are issued in the following ten broad diwvrions.

the guides will be acceptable it they provide a basis for the findings requitet, tothe issuance or continuance of a permit or license by the Commission.

1. Power Reactors

6. Product i2. Research and lest Reacro's

7. Trans~oo'ttinn

3. Fuels and Materials Facilitm

8, Occupational HealthPuhshrhed guides will lie revised periodically, as appropriae.

to accommodate

4. Environmentat ard Siting 9. A',:Irust Reviewcomments and to reflect new inlormation or eaperience.

S. Materials and Plant Protection t0. General aI, At Iea, one fiui-diamele, specimeni hom eacht11r sliv Should le tested Cor each 50 torns or 'ftrctioli thefico"

of reinforcing baOrs that aie prodticed ornm eachand tised il Category I sitrutllures.

V. The le"I procedures should he in acckirdance wit hi .I\STN'I

A-370-0,S.

-StIand1rd MtIhods aridDefinitioms I*oI" Mechanical Tesit ing of Steel Ploducls."

American Society o'Or leSling iand c. The jsnc itandards should be inacc' ord:unce wi III ASTNI A. 1.5-72. "St:adaid Speciflica:ion for Dcl'Otned lillc-Steel iais forConrrrcie

k. inmerceent

.'ric:ri Socieiy I'Or resting:nmid .Nhiefials.

ifrcludinw Srupplemient:1l Requiremuer (S-I). using ftill sectioh s ite harý a,%, d. anry material properly such is yield-It'in l.tIII- Io-[Onsile.streI)-thI

ratio. ducilily.

weldabilitv

,M 4,lhj.'i

.',imdLIar

)lo)pety is relied upon hV the designeror ColostruLtor, lhe reinforing liatr cliet!lis.ty shoultjd hecontrolled toI lie extent required to achieve lhe desledmaterial prrperty,

and conflriratI

.ry ltslit- i sh1o1h.d heperforrmined.

2. Deformation I nspections Del'irniitions on lhe reinforc:ing hais should ticinspected to assure their compliance wihl AS'IMA.6 Ii-72 and wiili the licensee's specifieatLions pertinent to bonding and other purposes which are dependem onlite def.or iniI t ion ch .ract erisi.sA.3

3 ,' ld c.q ija (iI' d cl'o fi n allj I i ,t,,t fo r N.l lic.ing w ill h ,.eder 'n r: I ,s t te'd 1% lht tensile cests o(i ilhic st l .ic', SeeSaI'.ty (.uid, "Mc.t.hnicul (Cadweld)

Splices in Reinf6:i1,'

liars of C'atcrory I (oncre te Sirt ic. ti.S."I. I -2.