What is Lap Length? How to Calculate it?

–
Complete Guide
by Civil Lead

Table of Contents
 What is Lap Length?
 Why it is provided?
 Why12meter?
 What will happen if we don’t provide lap length?
 How to calculate lap length?
o According to IS 456: 2000
 What are the general rules for lap length?
 Lapping zone
o For Column
o For Beam
 FAQs
o What is the lap length?
o What is the minimum lap length?
o What is the difference between lap length and development length?
o Where lap length is provided in column?
 Final Words
What is Lap Length?
The lap length is the length provided to overlap two rebars in order to safely transfer load from one
bar to another bar and alternative to this is to provide mechanical couplers. It is also known as lap
splices.
Why it is provided?
Suppose we need to construct the building of 30-metre height but there is no 30-metre single bar
available in the market. The maximum length of Steel bar available in the market is usually 12
metre.
Why12meter?
It is because of the transportation problem and manufacturing difficulty so we need to join three
bars of 12 metre to get 30 metre bar. 
What will happen if we don’t provide lap length?
If we don’t provide lap length then the load transfer mechanism will fail which eventually lead to
failure of structure also if we provide less lap length then the required then the reinforcement bar
split and Crack can be developed in the concrete.
How to calculate lap length?
The calculation for tension zone and compression zone are different. Let us take the case of the
beam when the beam is subjected to forces in a building the bottom portion of beam experiences
tension and top portion of beam experiences compression so, first we will discuss about tension
zone.
In, tension zone, there are two cases
 one flexural tension 
 direct tension 
According to IS 456: 2000
For flexural tension, the lap length shall be Ld that is development length or 30d whichever is
greater is considered. Where d is the diameter of the bar. Generally, development
length is 41d where d is the diameter of the bar.
For direct tension, the lap length should be 2 Ld or 30d whichever is greater is considered. In this
case, the straight length of the lapping bar shall not be less than 15d or 20cm. 
In compression
In the case of compression, the lap length is equal to the development length calculated in
compression but not less than 24d.
What are the general rules for lap length?
For the different diameter of bars
When the bars of different diameters are to be spliced the lap length is calculated considering the
smaller diameter bars.
Suppose you are constructing a column, from bottom 20 mm diameter bar is coming and from
here 16 mm diameter bar has to be spliced then for calculating lap length 16 mm diameter should
be considered and not 20 mm.
If the diameter of the bar is more than 36 mm then lapping should not be done instead of lapping,
this bar should be welded but when welding is not possible then lapping can be permitted for bars
larger than 36 mm but in this case, additional spiral shall be provided around the lapped bar. 

Lapping should be done in a staggered manner. These laps should not be given at the same level
to avoid buckling. The stirrup shall be closely spaced in the lapping portion it’s because when we
provide lapping in concrete member the strength of member slightly reduces. Hence, we need to
provide more numbers of stirrups in this portion. 

In case of bundled bars, lap splices of bundle bars shall be made by splicing one bar at a time.
Such individual splices within a bundle shall be staggered. In this image you can see some amount
of rebar is left for future construction with extra rebar will be needed for tying bars of the column.
This extra length of rebar is also called as lap length.
Lapping zone
For Column

This is the column. L is the length of the column. In the case of the column, the tension zone is
located at L/4 distance from both ends of the column. This zone experiences tension so here we
should not provide lapping.
The bending moment at the middle portion of the column is zero it means the middle portion of the
column is least stressed. Hence, lapping should be provided in the mid-section of the
column so that transfer of stresses from bar to bar happen smoothly in this region.
For Beam
 Whereas in case of the beam as I already explained before the top portion of beam experiences
compression and bottom portion experience tension. So, the top reinforcement in the beam is
left at midspan. As the beam does not experience any negative moment at midspan so lapping is
great in this region. 
In the case of bottom reinforcement, the lapping is provided near the ends of the beam or
L/4  distance from column face but should not be in the midpoint of the beam and one last
point The lapping should not be provided at joints.
FAQs
What is the lap length?
It is the length provided to overlap two rebars in order to safely transfer load from one bar to
another bar and alternative to this is, to provide mechanical couplers. 
What is the minimum lap length?
For direct tension, the straight length of the lapping bar shall not be less than 15d or 20 cm. While
in the case of compression lapping should not be less than 24d.
What is the difference between lap length and development length?
Lap length is provided to safely transfer stresses from one bar to another, while development is
needed to safely transfer the stresses from steel bar to concrete to make a continuous structure.
Where lap length is provided in column?
The bending moment at the middle portion of the column is zero it means the middle portion of the
column is least stressed. Hence, lapping should be provided in the mid-section of the column.
Final Words
I hope now you understood the concept of Lap Length. If you find this article helpful please don’t
forget to share it. If you want to add any information which i have missed in this article you can
mention in the comment section.
LAPPING ZONE AND LAPPING LENGTH OF SLAB , BEAM
AND COLUMN
ENGR. SM HEDAETULLAH BIN SIDDIKAugust 03, 2020

LAPPING ZONE AND LAPPING LENGTH OF SLAB , BEAM AND

COLUMN FOR BUILDING DETAILING
As a civil engineer it very important to know about lapping zone and lapping length. Here we will discuss about
lapping length and lapping zone of beam ,column and slabs. 

Due to the restricted bar length, lapping of bars is needed in a member greater than 12 m in length or where the
minimum bar length is more than 12 m in length.
 Lap Longitude:- Bar length needed to safely pass tension. Overlapping Length or Lap Length is provided to preserve
bar continuity and ensure a smooth transfer of the load from one bar to another. This depends on Concrete Standard,
steel grade and dia grade. From the Restaurant.

LAPPING ZONE AND LAPPING LENGTH OF SLAB

HOW MUCH LAP LENGTH IS PROVIDED IN SLAB ?

 In case of slab we use lap length 50dwhere ‘d’ is dia of bar. 
 one lap joint to another lap joint should be minimum 75 mm as show in figure.

LAPPING ZONE AND LAPPING LENGTH OF SLAB

IMPORTANT POINT SHOULD BE REMEMBER FOR SLAB LAP LENGTH:

 The work of RCC slabs resembles beams if the slab is constructed in one way. Ideal for lap bars at least bending
moment or at counter flexure stages.
 Practically laps are supported from a bar support at the bottom of the slab, beyond L/5 to L/3 (L being the effective
span). Generally, the top bars are low, so no laps are needed. The lapped bars however at no stage surpass one third of
the total bars.
 Bars are called staggered if at least the end-to - end distance b / w laps is (lap length +75 mm).

LAPPING ZONE AND LAPPING LENGTH OF BEAM

How Much Lap Length is Provided in Beam ?

 24d for compression zone.
 45d for tensile/tension zone.
 LAPPING ZONE AND LAPPING LENGTH OF SLAB , BEAM

IMPORTANT POINT SHOULD BE REMEMBER FOR BEAM LAP LENGTH:

 In top bars the lapping (24d) avoided L/3 gap from both ends. Mid span should be for top bar lapping.
 At column junction or L/4 distance from column face, lapping (45d) in the bottom bars lap should be given but
should not be in the mid span of beam.
 Stirrups should be spaced close to the columns and should lose / normal at mid-span.
 Alternatively, Bar lapping should be given.

LAPPING ZONE AND LAPPING LENGTH OF COLUMN

HOW MUCH LAP LENGTH IS PROVIDED IN COLUMN ?

 The length of the overlap should be no less than 75 mm. In the tensile zone of building members lapping should be
discouraged. Generally we take 24d – 40d in the case of column where 'd ' is bar dia.
 LAPPING ZONE AND LAPPING LENGTH OF COLUMN

IMPORTANT POINT SHOULD BE REMEMBER FOR COLUMN LAP LENGTH:

 In the center of the column, lapping should be given because the bending moment at midpoint is zero so continue to
lap at midpoint.
 Alternatively, Bar lapping should be given. Lap should not be issued at the same time, as there may be buckling.
 In the Lapping zone, lateral ties should be established spaced closely.
 We can't lap at the column / beam / slab join because of high tension. Lapping should not be provided from top and
bottom of the slab at a distance of L/4.

Tension Lap Splice Lengths As Per ACI 318-24

 DESIGN AND DETAILING DATA – ACI 318 Tension Lap Splice Lengths

ACI Compression Lap  Lengths for f'c = 3,000 psi to 5,000 psi
ACI Compression Lap  Lengths
 Difference between Lapping Length and Development Length

Lapping Length
In civil engineering point of view the lapping length is also called overlapping length, and lapping length we can define when the steel in bar is
not sufficient for the design length which we required, so for that we lap the other steel to complete the design length , so there two steel
should be overlapping on each other that is called lapping or overlapping length.

Lapping length can transfer the load from one member to another, and the reinforcement bar needs to be firmly bound at both ends.
Example: If we have to place the steel on the slab and the length of the slab is 22 meter, and in the market there we have the steel
 length which is 12 meter so if we complete our design length for steel in slab so we have to overlap the other steel to complete our steel
design for slab.

We Have Two Kinds of Lapping In Steel

Lap length for tension members = 40d ( Especially used for Beam)

Lap length for compression members = 50d. (Especially used for Column)

The above formula you can use at the site for practical construction work because this is the real design structure formula

Development Length
Development length is the length of the bar which we used to transfer the stress into the concrete.
We used the given formula Development length (Ld) =d x σs/τbd So here

d is Diameter of bar

σs = Stress in the bar at the section considered as design load. τbd = Design bond stress.