scope:

These recommendations apply only to structures using normalweight concrete with a compressive strength fc¢ not exceeding 15,000 psi (100 MPa) in the connections.

From consideration of recent research results of connections with concrete compressive strengths of up to 15,000 psi (100 MPa), ACI Committee 352 has extended the limits of the recommendations to include high-strength concrete (Guimaraes, Kreger, and Jirsa 1992; Saqan and Kreger 1998; Sugano et al. 1991). The committee believes that further research demonstrating the performance and design requirements of connections with lightweight-aggregate concrete is required before the scope of these recommendations can extend beyond normalweight concrete. These recommendations are applicable to structures in which mechanical splices are used, provided that the mechanical splices meet the requirements of Section 21.2.6 of ACI 318-02 and the recommendations of the Commentary to Section 21.2.6 of ACI 318-02.