Structural

Detailing
Standards

June 2005

U.S. Customary Units

 Table of Contents

1. General .............................................................................................. 1
2. Paper Sizes ........................................................................................ 1
3. Drawing Sizes .................................................................................... 2
4. Scales ................................................................................................ 2
5. Units ................................................................................................... 4
6. Writing Conventions ........................................................................... 4
7. U.S. Customary Units Conversions ................................................... 4
8. Concrete Strength .............................................................................. 6
9. Reinforcement .................................................................................... 7
10. Structural Steel................................................................................. 10
11. Survey Information ............................................................................ 11
12. Cross Slopes ..................................................................................... 11
13. Side Slopes ....................................................................................... 11
14. Cross Section Intervals .................................................................... 12
15. Contour Intervals .............................................................................. 12
16. Footings ........................................................................................... 13
17. Piles ................................................................................................. 13
18. Bolted Connection (Structural Steel Joints) ..................................... 14
19. Bearing Pads and Joint Seal Assemblies ........................................ 15
20. Prestressed Concrete ...................................................................... 15
21. Vertical Clearance ............................................................................ 15
22. Examples of Notes ........................................................................... 16
23. References ....................................................................................... 18

Structural Detailing Standards

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1 - General
A decision document (Ref. 1) and a transition plan (Ref. 2) were developed
and approved to convert from Metric units to English units (U.S. Customary
units).

U.S. Customary units (a.k.a. inch-pound or pound-inch units) are defined by

the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

(Web address: http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/200/202/mpo_home.htm)

Users should become familiar with NIST and other equally reliable sources to
obtain knowledge and skills exceeding the scope of this Structural Detailing
Standards.

Items that need to adapt the U.S. Customary units should be sent to the chair-
person of the Structure technical committee that addresses those specific items
or to John Roccanova, the Department’s Metric to U.S. Customary units Coor-
dinator in the Office of Planning and Design.

Division of Engineering Services Office of Office Engineer (DES OOE) will

convert the Standard Specifications, Standard Plans, Standard Special Provi-
sions and the BEES (Basic Engineering Estimating System) to U.S. Custom-
ary units before the first U.S. Customary units project goes out for advertise-
ment.

2 - Paper Sizes
U.S. Customary units drawings may be made on any size paper. The Division
of Engineering Services will continue to use the 24" x 36" paper for structure
plans. When sending the file to DES OOE, the files will be based on the 24" x
36" paper size.

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3 - Drawing Sizes
The Division of Engineering Services will use the 24" x 36" paper with a 21" x
33 ½" + drawing size for structure plans. Reduced set drawings will still be
based on a 50% reduction.

4 - Scales
US Customary drawing scales are expressed in inches to feet ratios. Metric
drawing scales are expressed in non-dimensional ratios.

Project Development is proposing the following for Profile Sheets

(Reference 2)

A) Rural Sections in hilly or mountainous terrain

1"= 100' horizontal, 1" = 10'-0" vertical

B) Rural or urban with gentle rolling terrain

1"= 50' horizontal, 1" = 5'-0" vertical

C) Rural or urban with level terrain

1" = 20'-0" horizontal, 1" = 2'-0" vertical,

Project Development is proposing the following for Cross Sections

(Reference 2)

A) Rural: 1" = 10'-0"

B) Urban: 1" = 5'-0"

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The Office of Structure Design, Office of Structure Design Services & Earth-
quake Engineering, proposes the use of the following scales.

US Customary Scale Close Metric Scale

1' = 1'-0" (Full Size) 1:1 (Full Size)
6" = 1'-0" (Half Size) 1:2 (Half Size)
3" = 1'-0" 1:4
1 1/2" = 1'-0" 1:8
1" = 1'-0" 1:10
3/4" = 1'-0" 1:20
1/2" = 1'-0" 1:25
3/8" = 1'-0" 1:30
1/4" = 1'-0" 1:50
3/16" = 1'-0" 1:80
1/8" = 1'-0" 1:100
3/32" = 1'-0" 1:125
1/16" = 1'-0" 1:200
1" = 10' 1:100
1" = 20' 1:250
1" = 30' 1:400
1" = 40' 1:500
1" = 50' 1:600
1" = 80' 1:1000
1" = 100' 1:1200
1" = 200' 1:2000
1" = 250' 1:3000
1" = 400' 1:5000
1" = 500' 1:6000
1" = 1000' 1:10000

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5 - Units
Plans will contain U.S. Customary units only.

The preferred U.S. Customary units (base units) are the foot (') and inch (").

6 - Writing Conventions
For writing conventions for U.S. Customary units and numbers see “Metric
Units to U.S. Customary Units General Primer [California Department of
Transportation] - February 1, 2005”.

7 - U.S. Customary Units

Conversions

Class Multiply: By: To Get

Area m 2
2.4710 x 10 -4
acre
ha(10,000 m2) 2.4710 acre
m2 10.7643 ft2
m2 1.1960 yd2
km2 0.3861 mi2

Length * m 3.2808 ft
mm 0.0394 in
µm 3.937 x 10-2 mils
km 0.6214 mi
m 1.0936 yd

U.S. Customary Units

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Class Multiply: By: To Get
Volume m3 35.3357 ft3
L** 0.2642 gal
ML** 0.0338 fl oz
m3 1.3079 yd3
m3 8.1071 x 10-4 acre ft

Mass g 0.0353 oz
kg 2.2046 lb
tonne (1000kg) 2.2046 kip (1000 lb)
kg 1.1023 x 10-3 short ton (2000 lb)
tonne (1000kg) 1.1023 short ton (2000 lb)

Force N 0.2248 lb
kN 0.2248 kip
kN 0.1124 ton

Density kg/m3 1.6855 lb/yd3

kg/m3 0.0624 lb/ft3

Pressure Pa 1.4504 x 10-4 psi

MPa (N/mm2) 0.14504 ksi
Pa 0.0209 psf
kPa 20.8855 psf
kPa 0.0209 ksf

Velocity m/s 3.2808 ft/s

m/s 2.2371 mi/h
km/h 0.6214 mi/h

Light lux (lx) 0.0929 footcandle

(lumen/m2) (lumen/ft2)

Temperature o
C t oF = t oC (9/5) + 32 F
o

* The actual conversion factor is for the Survey Foot, where the factor is equal
to 3937.
1200

** “L” is used so as not to be confused with the numeral “1”.

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8 - Concrete Strength

Concrete fc' Use

25 MPa 3,600 psi
28 MPa 4,000 psi *
35 MPa 5,000 psi
42 MPa 6,000 psi

* Specify concrete strengths in 500 psi increments above 4000 psi.

Note: The standard design strength is 3600 psi.

U.S. Customary Units

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9 - Reinforcement
U.S. Customary Units (Imperial) reinforcement will be used in place of
metric reinforcement.

Imperial Reinforcing Bars: Use ASTM A706 Grade 60

Bar Sizes – Soft Metric* and Inch

Bar Designation No. Nominal Diameter Nominal Area
Metric* Imperial mm in. mm2 in.2
10 3 9.5 0.375 71 0.11
13 4 12.7 0.500 129 0.20
16 5 15.9 0.625 199 0.31
19 6 19.1 0.750 284 0.44
22 7 22.2 0.875 387 0.60
25 8 25.4 1.000 510 0.79
29 9 28.7 1.128 645 1.00
32 10 32.3 1.270 819 1.27
36 11 35.8 1.410 1006 1.56
43 14 43.0 1.693 1452 2.25
57 18 57.3 2.257 2581 4.00

* Metric Bar Designation number approximates the number of millimeters of

the nominal diameter of the bar.

Specify bar length to the nearest half inch for embedment and hook dimen-
sions, and two inches for length.

Spacing of reinforcement should be shown to the nearest quarter inch. Spac-

ing of reinforcement is assumed to be in inches unless otherwise noted. With
this assumption, the inch symbol is not required.

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Standard Hook Details

In accordance with ACI 318-02

Note: All dimensions are in inches

All grades:
D = finished inside bend diameter D = 6db for #3 through #8
db = nominal bar diameter D = 8db for #9, #10 and #11
D = 10db for #14 and #18

Recommended End Hooks, All Grades*

180o Hooks 90o Hooks
Bar Size D
A J A
#3 2¼ 5" 3 ¼” 6”
#4 3 6" 4 ¼” 8”
#5 3¾ 7" 5 ¼" 10"
#6 4½ 8" 6 ¼" 1'-0"
#7 5¼ 10" 7 ¼" 1'-3"
#8 6 11" 8 ¼" 1'-5"
#9 9½ 1'-3" 1'-0" 1'-7"
#10 10 ¾ 1'-5" 1'-1 ½" 1'-10"
#11 12 1'-7" 1'-3" 2'-0"
#14 18 ¼ 2'-3" 1'-10" 2'-7"
#18 24 3'-1" 2'-5" 3'-6"

· For information only

U.S. Customary Units
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=
=

Stirrup/Tie Hook Details

In accordance with ACI 318-02

Note: All dimensions are in inches

All grades:
D = finished inside bend diameter

Stirrup Hooks (Tie Bends Similar)

90o Hooks 135o Hooks
Bar Size D
A or G A or G H
#3 1 ½" 4" 4" 2 ½"
#4 2" 4 ½" 4 ½" 3"
#5 2 ½" 6" 5 ½" 3 ¾"
#6 4 ½" 1'-0" 7 ¾" 4 ½"
#7 5 ¼" 1'-2" 9" 5 ¼"
#8 6" 1'-4" 10 ¼" 6"

D = finished inside bend diameter

“H” dimension is approximate
For Seismic hook, dimension length on detail.

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Comparison of Deformed Bar Designation Numbers,

Nominal Weights [Masses] and Nominal Dimensions
Nominal Dimensions B
Bar Nominal Cross-
Designation Weight Diameter Sectional Perimeter
Number A (lb/ft) (in.) Area (in.)
(in.2)

3 0.376 0.375 0.11 1.178

4 0.668 0.500 0.20 1.571
5 1.043 0.625 0.31 1.963
6 1.502 0.750 0.44 2.356
7 2.044 0.875 0.60 2.749
8 2.670 1.000 0.79 3.142
9 3.400 1.128 1.00 3.544
10 4.303 1.270 1.27 3.990
11 5.313 1.410 1.56 4.430
14 7.650 1.693 2.25 5.320
18 13.600 2.257 4.00 7.090

A
Bar numbers are based on the number of eighth of an inch included
in the nominal diameter of the bars.
B
The nominal dimensions of a deformed bar are equivalent to those of
a plain round bar having the same weight per foot as the deformed bar.

10 - Structural Steel
Structural Members sizes will conform to ASTM Specifications A6. In the
future LFRD specifications will use non-dimensional property factors.

U.S. Customary Units

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11 - Survey Information
(Reference 4)

All survey information will be expressed in feet.

Caltrans has adopted 100 feet per station. Stations will be to the nearest
hundredth of a foot.

Elevations are to be expressed in feet, to the nearest hundredth of a foot.

For example:
Elevation 324.35 (feet)
Station 120+23.75
120 (100 feet/station = 12,000 feet from source)
23 (feet)
0.75 (foot) = 9 inches

Angular measurement will retain degree-minute-second convention.

12 - Cross Slopes
(Reference 4)

Pavement cross slope and superelevation shall be shown as a percent.

13 - Side Slopes
(Reference 4)

Slope is expressed in non-dimensional ratios. The horizontal component is

shown first and then the vertical component. Example: A three-foot run with an
one-foot rise is expressed as 3:1. The units that are compared should be the
same (foot to foot, inch to inch).
Structural Detailing Standards
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14 - Cross Section Intervals
(Reference 4)

Caltrans has adopted a 50-foot cross section interval. Cross section intervals
may be reduced.

15 - Contour Intervals
(Reference 4)

HQ is proposing the following:

Index Intermediate
Scale
Contours Contours
1" = 20' 5'-0" 1'-0"
1" = 50' 10'-0" 2'-0"
1" = 100' 20'-0" 4'-0"
1" = 200' 50'-0" 10'-0"
1" = 400' 100'-0" 20'-0"

This seems adequate for our work, except as follows:

Bridge deck contours use:

Index contours = 1'-0"
Intermediate contours = 0.2'

U.S. Customary Units

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16 - Footings
Specify allowable pressures to the nearest 0.10 ksf.

Pressure Soft Proposed

145 kPa 3.031 ksf 3.00 ksf
190 kPa 3.971 ksf 4.00 ksf

17 - Piles
Specify pile diameter to the nearest 1 inch.
Example:

Pile Diameter Soft Proposed

300 mm 11.8" 12"
380 mm 15.0" 15"
400 mm 15.8" 16"

Specify pile spacing to the nearest 3 inches.

Example:

Pile Spacing Soft Proposed

500 mm 1-7 3/4" 1'-6"
900 mm 2-11 1/2" 3'-0"

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Specify pile capacity to the nearest 10 kips.
Example:

Pile Capacity Soft Proposed

400 kN 89.92 kips 90 kips
625 kN 140.50 kips 140 kips
900 kN 202.32 kips 200 kips

Specify pile tip to the nearest 3 inches.

For example:
Specified pile tip 24.25 (feet)

18 - Bolted Connection
(Structural Steel Joints)
ASTM Specification A325:

Standard Bolt and Hole– U.S. Customary Units Conversion

ISO/TC167
AISC/LFRD (ASTM A325)
(ASTM A325M)
Bolt Diameter Hole Bolt Diameter Hole Bolt Diameter Hole
inches inches mm “soft” mm “soft” mm “hard” mm “hard”
1/2 9/16 12.7 14.3 - -
5/8 11/16 15.9 17.5 M16 18
3/4 13/16 19.0 20.6 M20 22
7/8 15/16 22.2 23.8 M22 24
1 1-1/16 25.4 27.0 M24 26
1 1/8 1-3/16 28.6 30.2 M27 30
1 1/4 1-5/16 31.8 33.3 M30 33
1 3/8 1-7/16 34.9 36.5 - -
1 1/2 1-9/16 38.1 39.7 M36 39

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19 - Bearing Pads
and Joint Seal Assemblies
Steel reinforced bearing pads are vulcanized in a mold, so a soft conversion
was used for the metric steel reinforced bearing pads (basically the U.S. Cus-
tomary units dimensions were used). Returning to U.S. Customary units should
be a direct or “soft” conversion.

The fabric pads will be dimensioned to the nearest two inches. Pad thickness
should be determined in one half inch increments.

20 - Prestressed Concrete

Currently, 0.6" and 0.5" strands are used worldwide and will be retained as
standards.

Prestressing Steel: 270 ksi, seven-wire, “Low Relaxation Strands” will be the
standard.

P/S Notes: Round off Pjack to the nearest 100 kips and Anchor Set to the near-
est sixteenth of an inch.

21 - Vertical Clearance
16.5' replaces 5.1 m
16.0' replaces 4.9 m
15.0' replaces 4.6 m
14.5' replaces 4.5 m
Structural Detailing Standards
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22 - Examples of Notes
A) Example of “General Notes”

GENERAL NOTES
LOAD FACTOR DESIGN
DESIGN: CALTRANS BRIDGE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
LFD Version April 2000 (1996 AASHTO with Interims and
Revisions by Caltrans)

SEISMIC DESIGN: CALTRANS SEISMIC DESIGN CRITERIA (SDC)

Version 1.3, February 2004

DEAD LOAD: Includes 35 psf for Future Wearing Surface

Includes 10% of the additional deck dead load
Between girders for Stay-in-Place deck forms for steel or
precast girder structures

LIVE LOAD: HS20-44 and Alternative and Permit Design Load

SEISMIC LOAD: SDC ARS Curve for Soil Profiles X (M= 0.0 + 0.0)
Peak Rock Acceleration = 0.0g

REINFORCED CONCRETE: fy = 60,000 psi

f’c = 3600 psi (unless otherwise shown or specified)

Transverse Deck Slabs (Working Stress):

fs = 20,000 psi
fc = 1200 psi
n = 10

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE: See “Prestressing Notes”

on “ “ sheet

FOOTING PRESSURE: See “Footing Data Table”

on “ “ sheet

PILES: See “Pile Data Table”

on “ “ sheet

Example: Added DL for Stay-in-Place Deck Forms “July, 8 2000”

(See Memos to Designers 8-7 for application)

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B) Example of “Prestressing Notes”

PRESTRESSING NOTES

270 ksi Low Relaxation Strands:

Pjack = _________ kips
Anchor Set = _________ inch
Friction curvature coefficient µ = _________ x 10-2 (1/rad)
Friction wobble coefficient K = _________ 0.0002 (1/ft)

Distribution of prestress force (Pjack) between girders

shall not exceed the ratio of 3:2.

Maximum final force variation between girders shall

not exceed 725 kips.

Concrete: f'c = psi @ 28 days

f'ci = psi @ time of stressing

Contractor shall submit elongation calculations based on

initial stress at x =_______ times jacking stress.

One end stressing shall be performed from the long-span end only.

THIS CELL IS INTENDED FOR CIP/PS BOX GIRDERS STRUCTURES.

C) Example of “Pile Data Table”

PILE DATA TABLE – PIPE PILE

Location Pile Type Design Load Nominal Resistance (kips) Design Tip Specified Tip
(kips) Compression Tension Elevation (ft) Elevation (ft)
Abut 1 PP 14"x1/2" 80 160 0 108.25 108.25
Bent 2 PP 14"x1/2" N/A 268 0 95.25 95.25
Abut 3 PP 14"x1/2" 84 168 0 106.50 106.50

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23 - References
1) Decision Document “Review of Departmental Policy on Metrication –
April 26, 2004 [Director’s Policy 15 and Deputy Directive 12]

2) Caltrans Metric to U.S. Customary Units Transition Plan – March 2005

3) Metric Units to U.S. Customary Units General Primer [California Depart-

ment of Transportation] – February 1, 2005

4) Interim Drafting and CADD Guidelines – March 1, 2005

U.S. Customary Units