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 I

12/28/72 U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

.REGULATORY GUIDE

DIRECTORATE OF REGULATORY STANDARDS

REGULATORY GUIDE 1.15 TESTING OF REINFORCING BARS FOR CATEGORY I

CONCRETE STRUCTURES'

A. INTRODUCTION

General Design Criterion I of Appendix A it) 10

ClFR Part 50, "General Design Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants," requires that structures, systems and components important to safety be designed. fabricated.

erected, and tested to quality standards commensurate with the importance of the safety function to be performed. This guide describes an acceptable method for implementing this criterion with regard to tests and inspections of reinforcing bars for Category I concrete structures. 2 The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards has been consulted concerning this guide and has concurred in the regulatory position.

B. DISCUSSION

The tensile strength of concrete structures important to safety depends upon reinforcing bars imbedded in the concrete. The contribution of the concrete to the tensile strength of the structure is minimal and :hus generally disregarded. The tensile strength of reinforcing bars is usually tested in accordance with ASTM

A-615-72.

"Standard Specification for Deformed Billet-Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement", American Society for Testing and Materials. This specification permits the tensile test specimens to be either of full bar diameter or of a reduced diameter. Comparison of test data obtained with both full bar diameter and reduced diameter This 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 power plant are designated as Category I if they are designed to withstand the effects of the Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE)

and remain functional. See Safety Guide 29, "Seismic Design Classification."

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. The variatinns are generally greater in bar size, No. 14 and larger. Thus, the evaluation of the desigii margin tit safety in the slrticture may not be conservative if it is based upon test results obtained from teduced diameter specimens.

ASTM A-615-72 requires only one tension test specimen per heat if all bars from a single heat differ in size by less than three designation numbers: only two specimens are required in other cases. Because each heat may contain from 50 to 250 tons of steel, the fraction of the reinforcing bars that are tested may vary by a factor of 5. A more consistent basis for sampling can he obtained by choosing the test specimens on the basis ,,1 the number of reinforcing bars or the weight of reinforcing.

Special chemistry requirements have occasionally been placed on somne reinforcing bars. and checks should be made that any such requirements are being met.

Since some mechanical splice configurations may require deformations that exceed the minlimum requirements set forth in ASTM

A-615-72. it is impertant to inspect the deformations it) assute that they will permit a reliable mechanical splice to le made.

C. REGULATORY POSITION

I.

Yield Strength and Tensile Strength Tests Reinforcing bars used for concrete structures important to safety should be tested to verify their yield strength 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, to the issuance or continuance of a permit or license by the Commission.

6. Product i

2. Research and lest Reacro's

7. Trans~oo'ttinn

3. Fuels and Materials Facilitm

8, Occupational Health Puhshrhed guides will lie revised periodically, as appropria

e. to accommodate

4. Environmentat ard Siting

9. A',:Irust Review comments and to reflect new inlormation or eaperience.

S. Materials and Plant Protection t

0. General

aI, At Iea, one fiui-diamele, specimeni hom eacht

11r

• . sliv Should le tested Cor each 50 torns or 'ftrctioli thefico" of reinforcing baOrs that aie prodticed ornm each Ie*,

and 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 arid Definitioms I*oI" Mechanical Tesit ing of Steel Ploducls."

American Society o'Or leSling iand i*aterials.

c.

The jsnc itandards should be in acc' ord:unce wi III

ASTNI

A.

1.5-72.

"St:adaid Speciflica:ion for Dcl'Otned lillc-Steel iais for Conrrrcie

k. inmerceent

.'ric:ri Socieiy I'Or resting

nmid

.Nhiefials.

ifrcludinw Srupplemient:1l Requiremuer (S-I). using ftill sectioh s ,*'" ite harý a,%,

• olled.

d.

M\\ier*, anry material properly such is yield- It'in l.tIII-

Io-[Onsile.streI)-thI

ratio. ducilil

y. weldabilitv

,M 4,lhj.'i .',imdLIar )lo)pety is relied upon hV the designer or ColostruLtor, lhe reinforing liatr cliet!lis.ty shoultjd he controlled toI lie extent required to achieve lhe desled material prrperty, :and conflriratI

.ry ltslit- i sh1o1h.d he perforrmined.

2.

Deformation I nspections Del'irniitions on lhe reinforc:ing hais should tic inspected to assure their compliance wihl AS'IM

A.6 Ii-72 and wiili the licensee's specifieatLions pertinent to bonding and other purposes which are dependem on lite def.or iniI t ion ch .ract erisi.sA.3

3 ,' ld c.q ija *.y (iI'

d cl'o fi n allj I i ,t,,t fo r N.l lic.ing w ill h ,.e der 'n r: I

,s t te'd

1% lht tensile cests o(i ilhic nect-mi*.;,

st l .ic', See SaI'.ty (.uid, i*t. "Mc.t.hnicul (Cadweld) Splices in Reinf6:i1,'

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

I. I -2.