Temperature Steel Location?

[SRO]

This is a repost, so hopefully the un-informative original was deleted.

I have a cantilever retaining wall, and I've sized all the structural steel for the heel & toe. For the temp steel I was wondering if it makes a difference if it was located above, or below the structural reinforcing? Please don't give me a reference chapter in the ACI code, I haven't received my copy yet.

 

[denoid]

I don't think it really matters overall. However, I usually locate the structural reinforcing closer to the outside face merely to maximize the "d" distance in the calculation.

 

[JAE]

Generally, you want to place temperature/shrinkage reinforcing in the area of the cross-section where you hope to minimize cracking the most. For a cantiliever retaining wall, the primary bending in the stem causes tension in the earth-side of the wall. This is resisted by the vertical bars which should be placed near the earth face (2" clear or so)

For the temp bars (horizontal), their function is to help keep vertical cracks closed and I would usually think that this is in the air-side face.

That said, though, it is tough to hang horizontal temp bars on the air-side face when there are no vertical bars there. So in most cases, you see the temp bars tied to the vertical bars in the earth-side area.