Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary

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ACI 318-08 is deemed to satisfy ISO 19338:2007(E).

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James K. Wight
Chair
Basile G. Rabbat
Secretary
Sergio M. Alcocer
Catherine E. French
James O. Jirsa
Myles A. Murray
Florian G. Barth
Luis E. Garcia
Dominic J. Kelly
Julio A. Ramirez
Roger J. Becker
S. K. Ghosh
Gary J. Klein
Thomas C. Schaeffer
Kenneth B. Bondy
Lawrence G. Griffis
Ronald Klemencic
Stephen J. Seguirant
John E. Breen
David P. Gustafson
Cary Kopczynski
Roberto Stark
James R. Cagley
D. Kirk Harman
H. S. Lew
Eric M. Tolles
Ned M. Cleland
James R. Harris
Colin L. Lobo
Thomas D. Verti
Michael P. Collins
Neil M. Hawkins
Robert F. Mast
Sharon L. Wood
W. Gene Corley
Terence C. Holland
W. Calvin McCall
Loring A. Wyllie, Jr.
Charles W. Dolan
Kenneth C. Hover
Jack P. Moehle
Fernando V. Yánez
Anthony E. Fiorato
Subcommittee Members
Neal S. Anderson
David Darwin
Andres Lepage
Suzanne D. Nakaki
David H. Sanders
Mark A. Aschheim
Robert J. Frosch
LeRoy A. Lutz
Theodore L. Neff
Guillermo Santana
F. Michael Bartlett
Harry A. Gleich
James G. MacGregor Andrzej S. Nowak
Andrew Scanlon
John F. Bonacci
R. Doug Hooton
Joe Maffei
Gustavo J. Parra-Montesinos John F. Stanton
JoAnn P. Browning
L. S. Paul Johal
Karl F. Meyer
Jose A. Pincheira
Fernando Reboucas Stucchi
Nicholas J. Carino
Michael E. Kreger
Denis Mitchell
Randall W. Poston
Raj Valluvan
Ronald A. Cook
Jason J. Krohn
Vilas S. Mujumdar
Bruce W. Russell
John W. Wallace
Juan P. Covarrubias
Daniel A. Kuchma
Liaison Members
Mathias Brewer
Alberto Giovambattista
Hector Monzon-Despang
Patricio A. Placencia
Josef Farbiarz
Hector Hernandez
Enrique Pasquel
Oscar M. Ramirez
Rafael Adan Ferrera-Boza
Angel E. Herrera
Victor F. Pizano-Batlle
Mario E. Rodriguez
Consulting Members
C. Raymond Hays
Richard C. Meininger
Charles G. Salmon
BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR 
STRUCTURAL CONCRETE (ACI 318-08)
AND COMMENTARY
REPORTED BY ACI COMMITTEE 318
ACI Committee 318
Structural Building Code

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ACI 318 Building Code and Commentary
PREFACE
The “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete” (“Code”) covers the materials, design, and construction
of structural concrete used in buildings and where applicable in nonbuilding structures. The Code also covers the
strength evaluation of existing concrete structures.
Among the subjects covered are: drawings and specifications; inspection; materials; durability requirements;
concrete quality, mixing, and placing; formwork; embedded pipes; construction joints; reinforcement details; analysis
and design; strength and serviceability; flexural and axial loads; shear and torsion; development and splices of
reinforcement; slab systems; walls; footings; precast concrete; composite flexural members; prestressed concrete; shells
and folded plate members; strength evaluation of existing structures; provisions for seismic design; structural plain
concrete; strut-and-tie modeling in Appendix A; alternative design provisions in Appendix B; alternative load and
strength reduction factors in Appendix C; and anchoring to concrete in Appendix D.
The quality and testing of materials used in construction are covered by reference to the appropriate ASTM standard
specifications. Welding of reinforcement is covered by reference to the appropriate AWS standard.
Uses of the Code include adoption by reference in general building codes, and earlier editions have been widely used
in this manner. The Code is written in a format that allows such reference without change to its language. Therefore,
background details or suggestions for carrying out the requirements or intent of the Code portion cannot be included.
The Commentary is provided for this purpose. Some of the considerations of the committee in developing the Code
portion are discussed within the Commentary, with emphasis given to the explanation of new or revised provisions.
Much of the research data referenced in preparing the Code is cited for the user desiring to study individual questions
in greater detail. Other documents that provide suggestions for carrying out the requirements of the Code are also cited.
Keywords: admixtures; aggregates; anchorage (structural); beam-column frame; beams (supports); building codes; cements; cold weather construction;
columns (supports); combined stress; composite construction (concrete and steel); composite construction (concrete to concrete); compressive strength;