Synopsis
This paper presents an evaluation of EC2 rules for the design of tension lapped joints. The evaluation is conducted using two alternative procedures based around a large database of nearly 1000 individual test results reported in the literature. In the first approach, the characteristic value of lap strength estimated by EC2 procedures is compared directly with measured strengths. In the other, the lap length required by EC2 to develop the design strength of a bar is first calculated, and the strength of that lap then estimated using three different semi empirical expressions derived from the database. The evaluation is conducted on laps in which individual bars are all lapped at the same section – as the great majority of test data relates to this situation. The outcome suggests that EC2 procedures for tension laps do not provide the margin of safety expected, and proposals are presented for their revision.