In this article, we will introduce skin reinforcement in RC beams and why they are necessary.
What is Skin Reinforcement?
An example RC beam with skin reinforcement is illustrated below:
Skin reinforcing bars are non-structural and are smaller than the main reinforcement, of similar size to stirrups. Reasons to include skin reinforcement bars are included below.
Why is Skin Reinforcement Necessary?
When the distance between the main reinforcing bars is too large, there is a risk that the rebar could distort and lose it's intended shape. Therefore we can provide skin reinforcement bars to provide a stiffer arrangement.
Additionally, there is a risk of cracking when the distance between rebar is too large.
Guidelines for Providing Skin Reinforcement
Some simple guidelines for providing skin reinforcement are shown below.
In general, try to maintain a maximum distance of between 300 to 400 mm to control cracking and avoid shape distortion.