INTERNATIONAL ISO

STANDARD 15835-2

Second edition
2018-10

Steels for the reinforcement of

concrete — Reinforcement couplers
for mechanical splices of bars —
Part 2:
Test methods
Aciers pour l'armature
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PREVIEW
aux raboutages mécaniques de barres —
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Partie 2: Méthodes d'essai

ISO 15835-2:2018
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Reference number
ISO 15835-2:2018(E)

© ISO 2018
ISO 15835-2:2018(E)


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ISO 15835-2:2018
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9705-d370189f49a1/iso-15835-2-2018

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 ISO 15835-2:2018(E)


Contents Page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv
1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and definitions...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
4 Symbols........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
5 Testing of mechanical splices................................................................................................................................................................... 2
5.1 General............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
5.2 Preparation of test pieces............................................................................................................................................................... 2
5.3 Tensile test................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
5.3.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
5.3.2 Testing equipment........................................................................................................................................................... 3
5.3.3 Test procedure.................................................................................................................................................................... 3
5.3.4 Failure mode and location........................................................................................................................................ 4
5.4 Slip test........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
5.4.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
5.4.2 Testing equipment........................................................................................................................................................... 4
5.4.3 Test procedure.................................................................................................................................................................... 4
5.4.4 Evaluation of slip under Option 1 as defined in ISO 15835-1.................................................... 5
5.4.5 Evaluation of slip under Option 2 as defined in ISO 15835-1.................................................... 5
5.5 iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
High-cycle fatigue test........................................................................................................................................................................ 6
5.5.1 Principle of the test......................................................................................................................................................... 6
5.5.2 (standards.iteh.ai)
S-N diagram .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
5.6 Low-cycle loading test....................................................................................................................................................................... 7
5.7 Identification and markingISO ............................................................................................................................................................
15835-2:2018 8
6 Test report.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
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ISO 15835-2:2018(E)


Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www​.iso​.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www​.iso​.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the
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World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www​.iso​
.org/iso/foreword​.html. (standards.iteh.ai)
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 17, Steel, Subcommittee SC 16, Steels for the
reinforcement and prestressing of concrete. ISO 15835-2:2018
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This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 15835-2:2009), which has been
9705-d370189f49a1/iso-15835-2-2018
technically revised with changes made to Clauses 5 and 6, 5.2, 5.4 and 5.6 and Table 1. The figures have
been revised and renumbered.
A list of all the parts in the ISO 15835 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www​.iso​.org/members​.html.

iv  © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 15835-2:2018(E)

Steels for the reinforcement of concrete — Reinforcement

couplers for mechanical splices of bars —
Part 2:
Test methods

1 Scope
This document specifies test methods applicable to couplers for mechanical splices of steel
reinforcing bars.
This document is applicable to the various standards for steel reinforcing bars as well as the various
reinforced concrete design standards.

2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
(standards.iteh.ai)
ISO 6892-1:2016, Metallic materials — Tensile testing — Part 1: Method of test at room temperature
ISO 9513, Metallic materials — Calibration of15835-2:2018
ISO extensometer systems used in uniaxial testing
ISO 15630-1, Steel for https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/58ddba55-d678-4d9b-
the reinforcement and prestressing of concrete — Test methods — Part 1: Reinforcing
bars, wire rod and wire 9705-d370189f49a1/iso-15835-2-2018

ISO 15835-1, Steels for the reinforcement of concrete — Reinforcement couplers for mechanical splices of
bars — Part 1: Requirements
ISO 16020, Steel for the reinforcement and prestressing of concrete — Vocabulary

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 15835-1 and ISO 16020 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:​//www​.iso​.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:​//www​.electropedia​.org/

4 Symbols

Table 1 — Symbols
Symbol Unit Designation
Agt % Percentage total elongation at maximum tensile force, Fmax
d mm Nominal diameter of the reinforcing bar
E MPaa Nominal modulus of elasticity of the reinforcing bar
a    1 MPa = 1 N/mm2 .

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ISO 15835-2:2018(E)


Table 1 (continued)
Symbol Unit Designation
L mm Length of mechanical splice as defined in ISO 15835-1
L1 mm Coupler length
Lg mm Gauge length for the measurement of slip
L0 mm Gauge length for conducting the low-cycle loading test
N — Specified number of load cycles in high-cycle fatigue test
Specified characteristic (or nominal) yield strength value of the
ReH, spec MPa
reinforcing bar
ΔLe mm Calculated elastic elongation of an unspliced bar
Total elongation of the spliced bar measured as elongation of the
ΔLg mm
gauge length
ΔLs mm Slip of the mechanical splice
ΔLt mm Gauge length extension under load
εy % Strain at nominal yield strength
2σa MPa Stress range for high-cycle fatigue test
σmax MPa Upper stress in the axial load fatigue test
σmin MPa Lower stress in the axial load fatigue test
a    1 MPa = 1 N/mm2 .

5 Testing of mechanical splices

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(standards.iteh.ai)
5.1 General
ISO 15835-2:2018
The test methods covered byhttps://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/58ddba55-d678-4d9b-
this document are as follows:
9705-d370189f49a1/iso-15835-2-2018
a) tensile test (see 5.3);
b) slip test (see 5.4);
c) high-cycle fatigue test (see 5.5);
d) low-cycle loading test (see 5.6).
A reference bar shall always be tested in the case of qualification testing and continuous independent
testing, for each test except the fatigue test. The reference bar shall be taken from the same length of
reinforcing bar as used in the test splice. Where different diameters are used in a splice, the reference
bar shall be taken from the smaller bar diameter of the splice.
For the calculation of stresses, the nominal cross-sectional area of the reinforcing bar shall be used.
For couplers with adjustable length, splices should be tested at their maximum extension in accordance
with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The temperature in the testing laboratory should be between 10 °C and 30 °C.

5.2 Preparation of test pieces

All tests shall be performed on mechanical splices prepared and assembled in the same manner as they
are prepared for normal use, according to written installation instructions from the supplier of the
coupler. The installation instruction documents for the coupler shall be made available to the testing
laboratory.
The coupler shall be positioned approximately in the middle of the test piece.

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 ISO 15835-2:2018(E)


The test piece for the tensile test shall be sufficiently long to ensure a free length between the grips
of the testing machine to allow the determination of Agt . The minimum sufficient free length of the
test piece for the tensile test is 400 mm + L, where L is the length of mechanical splice (as defined in
ISO 15835-1). The length L3 for determining Agt shall, for both bars, be located outside the length of the
mechanical splice (as defined in ISO 15835-1). This free length may, however, be reduced if the stroke
of the testing machine is too short to accommodate the test piece, as long as it remains possible to
measure Agt over the gauge length specified in ISO 15630-1.
The test piece for the slip test may have a shorter free length than the test piece for the tensile test.
However, the free length shall not be less than 250 mm + L.
The test pieces for the fatigue tests shall be sufficiently long to ensure a free length between the grips
of the testing machine, which is larger than the length of the mechanical splice.
The geometry for the measurement of elongations is shown in Figure 1.

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW

(standards.iteh.ai)
Key
F applied force ISO 15835-2:2018
L length of the mechanical splice (as defined in ISO 15835-1)
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L1 coupler length
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L2 2d where d is the nominal diameter of the reinforcing bar
L3 minimum free length for the measurement of Agt (as defined in ISO 15630-1)
Lg gauge length for the measurement of slip

Figure 1 — Definition of lengths for measuring elongations of the mechanical splice

5.3 Tensile test

5.3.1 General

The strength and ductility are determined by means of a tensile test. The test pieces from the slip test
may be used for this test.

5.3.2 Testing equipment

The testing equipment shall conform to ISO 15630-1.

5.3.3 Test procedure

The test shall be performed in accordance with ISO 15630-1.

The Agt in the spliced bar shall be tested and measured in accordance with ISO 15630-1 outside the
length of the mechanical splice (as defined in ISO 15835-1) on both sides of the connection. Both values
shall be recorded and the larger shall be used to assess conformity. However, if the length of the test

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ISO 15835-2:2018(E)


piece has been reduced to accommodate the stroke of the testing machine, the Agt may be measured on
only one side of the connection. If an extensometer is used, the bar shall still be marked so that manual
measurement remains possible.
When a transitional coupler is tested, Agt, is only measured on the smaller bar.

5.3.4 Failure mode and location

The location of the failure shall be reported as one of the following two locations:
a) within the mechanical splice length as defined in ISO 15835-1;
b) outside the mechanical splice length as defined in ISO 15835-1.

5.4 Slip test

5.4.1 General

The slip shall be measured by an arrangement of extensometers which are at least dual averaging. The
gauge length of the extensometers shall be between L1 + 2d and L1 + 6d, as close to L1 + 2d as possible.
NOTE Some types of extensometers have a fixed gauge length, which may not be equal to the length L of the
mechanical splice as defined in ISO 15835-1. In case of choice, a shorter gauge length is preferable.

5.4.2 Testing equipment

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The tensile testing machine to be used shall conform to ISO 15630-1.
(standards.iteh.ai)
The extensometer used shall be in accordance with ISO 9513, class 1 or better. The distance between
the axis of measurement and the axis of the splice ISOshould be minimized.
15835-2:2018
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The slip measurement device shall be 9705-d370189f49a1/iso-15835-2-2018
rigid and fastened securely, so that the slip can be measured
with an accuracy of not less than 0,01 mm. The uncertainty of measurement shall be determined in
accordance with ISO 6892-1:2016, Annex J.

5.4.3 Test procedure

The load cycling for qualification testing shall be performed in accordance with the principle shown in
Figure 2.

Key
1 stress for option 1 measurement σ stress
2 stress for option 2 measurement t time

Figure 2 — Load cycle diagram for the slip test

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 ISO 15835-2:2018(E)


The test piece shall be gripped in the testing equipment so that the load is transmitted axially and as
much as possible free of any bending moment on the whole length of the test piece.
The slip measurement shall be conducted with the minimum possible pre-load applied to the test
piece before the extensometer is attached. Any load applied to the sample during gripping before the
attachment of the extensometer shall not exceed 10 MPa.
NOTE Preloading of the test piece will normally take most of the slip out. A preloading does not normally
occur for spliced bars in a structure.

The initial gauge length shall be measured after gripping the sample in the tensile testing machine.
The load applied to 0,6ReH, spec shall not deviate from the theoretical load by more than ±3 %.
The recommended maximum speed of loading is 500 MPa/min.

5.4.4 Evaluation of slip under Option 1 as defined in ISO 15835-1

If Option 1 is used, the elongation of the spliced bar shall be recorded when the specified stress
equivalent to 0,6ReH, spec is reached. The slip shall be calculated using Formula (1).
∆Ls = ∆Lt − ∆Le (1)

where ΔLt is the gauge length extension under load.

The elastic elongation of the unspliced bar, ΔLe, is given by Formula (2).
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σ
∆Le =
E
× Lg (standards.iteh.ai) (2)

where ISO 15835-2:2018

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4F 9705-d370189f49a1/iso-15835-2-2018
σ=
πd 2
in which F is the applied force.
For carbon steel and low-alloy steel reinforcing bars, the value for E shall be taken as 2,0 × 105 MPa.
NOTE By this option a reduced stiffness of the splice is compensated by a stiff coupling. The test result can,
in special cases, be registered as a negative slip. This is not a problem and simply means that the mechanical
splice is stiffer than the bar.

5.4.5 Evaluation of slip under Option 2 as defined in ISO 15835-1

If Option 2 is used, the elongation of the spliced bar shall be recorded when the load has been released
to the minimum defined in 5.4.3. The slip shall be calculated using Formula (3).
∆LS = Lg 2 − Lg 1 − ∆Le (3)

where

Lg2 is the measured length, Lg , after load release;

Lg1 is the measured length, Lg , before loading;

ΔLe is the elastic elongation of the unspliced bar under the stress 2 at load release, as defined by
Formula (2).

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