Is there any restriction on the size of bars that can be bent for practical reasons. Does the code restrict the bending (for anchorage) of bars whose size is greater than #11. Need clarification. Thank you.
So the answer to the original post is no. The code does not restrict to bending of bars whose size is greater than #11.
PCA notes on ACI-318 7.2 MINIMUM BEND DIAMETERS
Minimum bend diameter for a reinforcing bar is defined as “the diameter of bend measured on the inside of the
bar.” Minimum bend diameters, expressed as multiples of bar diameters, are dependent on bar size; for No. 3 to
No. 8 bars, the minimum bend diameter is 6 bar diameters; for No. 9 to No. 11 bars, the minimum bend diameter
is 8 bar diameters; and for No. 14 and No. 18 bars, the minimum bend diameter is 10 bar diameters. Exceptions
to these provisions are:
1. For stirrups and ties in sizes No. 5 and smaller, the minimum bend diameter is 4 bar diameters. For No. 6
through No. 8 stirrups and ties, the minimum bend diameter is 6 bar diameters.
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2. For welded wire fabric used for stirrups and ties, the inside diameter of the bend must not be less than four
wire diameters for deformed wire larger than D6 and two wire diameters for all other wire. Welded intersections
must be at least four wire diameters away from bends with inside diameters of less than eight wire
diameters.