Reinforcing assembly, and reinforced concrete structures using such assembly
View Patent ↗A reinforcing assembly to address this problem comprises a plurality of diagonal working members (preferably formed of #3 rebar) each of which is “ribbed” to provide increased surface area for bonding to the concrete, and each of which is attached to a horizontal runner independently such that the diagonal working members are variably spaced along the assembly. Relative to the horizontal runner, each diagonal member is “bent” at a given angle, preferably in the range of 45° plus or minus 25°. The reinforcing assembly is designed for use to provide punching shear reinforcement in a reinforced concrete structure such as, without limitation, a slab (in which the assembly is supported) located adjacent a structural column. The top of each diagonal member in the reinforcing assembly preferably comprises a double hook that is configured to fit within reinforcing bars that run along the top of the slab. The horizontal runner comprises a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending carrier (or “support”) bars, each of which preferably terminates on one end (namely, at the support column) at one end in a structure that is bent upwards and hooked. Preferably, the hooked structure of each runner bar extends into the structural column to provide additional reinforcement, thereby converting the runner bar into a reinforcing member that provides the same function as the other diagonal members, and at a confined location at a highest point of stress (i.e. where the slab attaches to the column) where it would not be possible otherwise to fit a diagonal member.
1. A reinforcing assembly for use in a reinforced concrete structure, the reinforcing assembly comprising:
a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending support bars; and
a plurality of working members each attached to the support bars and oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the support bars, each working member comprising a ribbed reinforcing material and having at a top thereof a downwardly-extending hook portion, each working member attached to the support bars independently;
wherein the diagonally-oriented working members are arranged so that, when the reinforcing assembly is viewed from its side, part of one working member is located over part of a neighboring working member in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the diagonally-oriented working members are configured to provide reinforcement against diagonal punching shear stress in the reinforced concrete structure.
2. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein each working member comprises #3 rebar.
3. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein each working member is oriented at substantially 45° with respect to the longitudinal axis.
4. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein each support bar terminates on one end in a structure that is bent upwards and hooked.
5. The reinforcing assembly of claim 4 , wherein each support bar comprises #3 rebar.
6. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a spacing between each successive pair of working members increases along the length.
7. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein each working member comprises an upwardly extending portion that joins the downwardly-extending hook portion of that working member.
8. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein each working member is welded to the support bars.
9. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein each working member comprises a pair of sides that taper outwardly from top to bottom.
10. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
each working member comprises an upwardly extending portion having substantially straight sides defining a plane; and
the downwardly-extending hook portion of each working member projects outside of the plane defined by the sides of that working member.
11. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
each working member comprises an upwardly extending portion having substantially straight sides; and
the sides of all working members are substantially parallel with each other when the reinforcing assembly is viewed from its side.
12. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
each working member comprises an upwardly extending portion having a pair of sides; and
each side has an end at its bottom that is bent at an angle and that is attached to one of the support bars.
13. A reinforced concrete structure comprising:
a concrete member; and
a reinforcing assembly embedded within the concrete member, the reinforcing assembly comprising:
a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending support bars; and
a plurality of working members each attached to the support bars and oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the support bars, each working member comprising a ribbed reinforcing material and having at a top thereof a downwardly-extending hook portion, each working member attached to the support bars independently;
wherein the diagonally-oriented working members are arranged so that, when the reinforcing assembly is viewed from its side, part of one working member is located over part of a neighboring working member in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the diagonally-oriented working members are configured to provide reinforcement against diagonal punching shear stress in the concrete member.
14. The reinforced concrete structure of claim 13 , wherein the concrete member comprises a slab.
15. The reinforced concrete structure of claim 13 , wherein each working member comprises rebar.
16. The reinforced concrete structure of claim 13 , wherein each working member is oriented at substantially 45° with respect to the longitudinal axis.
17. The reinforced concrete structure of claim 13 , wherein each support bar terminates on one end in a structure that is bent upwards and hooked.
18. The reinforced concrete structure of claim 13 , wherein a spacing between each successive pair of working members increases along the length.
19. The reinforced concrete structure of claim 13 , wherein each working member comprises an upwardly extending portion that joins the downwardly-extending hook portion of that working member.
20. The reinforced concrete structure of claim 13 , wherein each working member is welded to the support bars.
21. A method of reinforcing, the method comprising:
positioning a reinforcing assembly within a concrete slab, the reinforcing assembly comprising a plurality of working members each attached to longitudinally-extending support bars and oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the support bars, each working member comprising a ribbed reinforcing fibbed material and having at a top thereof a downwardly-extending hook portion, each working member attached to the support bars independently; and
attaching the concrete slab to a structural column;
wherein the diagonally-oriented working members are arranged so that, when the reinforcing assembly is viewed from its side, part of one working member is located over part of a neighboring working member in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the diagonally-oriented working members provide reinforcement against diagonal punching shear stress in the concrete slab.
22. A reinforcing assembly comprising:
a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending support bars comprising #3 rebar; and
multiple working members welded to the support bars and oriented at a substantially 45° angle with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends along the support bars, each working member comprising #3 rebar and having at a top thereof a downwardly-extending hook portion;
wherein the diagonally-oriented working members are arranged so that, when the reinforcing assembly is viewed from its side, part of one working member is located over part of a neighboring working member in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the diagonally-oriented working members are configured to provide reinforcement against diagonal punching shear stress in a reinforced structure.
23. The reinforcing assembly of claim 22 , wherein each working member comprises a pair of sides that taper outwardly from top to bottom.