Study on the Bending and Joint Performances of Reinforced Concrete Beams Using High-Strength Rebars

High-strength reinforcing bars have high yield strengths. It is possible to reduce the number of reinforcing bars placed in a building. Accordingly, as the amount of reinforcement decreases, the spacing of reinforcing bars increases, workability improves, and the construction period shortens. To evaluate the structural performance of high-strength reinforcing bars and the joint performance of high-strength threaded reinforcing bars, flexural performance tests were performed in this study on 12 beam members with the compressive strength of concrete, the yield strength of the tensile reinforcing bars, and the tensile reinforcing bar ratio as variables. The yield strengths of the tensile reinforcement and joint methods were used as variables, and joint performance tests were performed for six beam members. Based on this study, the foundation for using high-strength reinforcing bars with a design standard yield strength equal to 600 MPa was established. Accordingly, mechanical joints of high-strength threaded reinforcing bars (600 and 670 MPa) can be used. All six specimens were destroyed under more than the expected nominal strength. Lap splice caused brittle fractures because it was not reinforced in stirrup. Increases of 21% to 47% in the loads of specimens using a coupler and a lock nut were observed. Shape yield represents destruction—a section must ensure sufficient ductility after yielding. Therefore, a coupler and lock nut are effective.