CONTROL OF FLEXURAL CRACKING IN REINFORCED CONCRETE

In the last 30 years the permissible steel stresses in reinforced concrete codes have generally more than doubled and, since crack widths are proportional to steel stress, it is now necessary to know with much greater certainty what other factors govern cracking and to be able to predict and control the crack widths. Recent research into the mechanisms of formation of flexural cracks in reinforced concrete has undermined the previously accepted hypothesis and beliefs and has produced crack prediction formulae which are very different to earlier formulae. This paper examines the old beliefs and hypothesis and describes briefly the recent research which has produced the understanding of the mechanisms and implications of flexural cracking required by the new limit-state code philosophy. The paper attempts to provide designers with an understanding of the background to the rules for crack control in Australian standard AS 1480-1974 and it suggests that research leading to an amendment to rule 9.10.2, concerning shrinkage and temperature reinforcement, is now urgently required.(a) /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08190259
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Engineers

  Science House, Gloucester and Essex Streets
  Sydney,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Base, G D
• Publication Date: 1976

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 20-23
• Serial:
  • Institution of Engineers (Australia) Civ Eng Trans
  • Volume: CE18
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Institution of Engineers
  • ISSN: 0819-0259

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Deflection; Flexure; Forecasting; Fracture mechanics; Reinforced concrete; Shrinkage; Specifications; Standards; Steel; Strength of materials; Stresses; Temperature; Tests
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 5211: Cracking; 5586: Deflection; 132: Forecast; 4794: Reinforced concrete; 187: Specification (standard); 4542: Steel; 5544: Strength (mater); 5575: Stress (in material); 6255: Test
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Materials; Planning and Forecasting; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I32: Concrete; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149034
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 17 1977 12:00AM