Two extensive and independent experimental programs have been conducted to study the cracking behaviour of reinforced concrete members subjected to pure tension in the presence of transverse reinforcement. The first program involved the testing of eighteen reinforced concrete segments and was mainly designed to examine the applicability of the existing equations for predicting crack spacings and widths. The segments were reinforced in two directions and loaded in uniaxial tension beyond the yield stress of the steel. The measured average values of the final crack spacings were compared to the values presented by other researchers. Based on this comparison, a simplified and refined expression for prediction of crack spacing is proposed.The second experimental program involved the testing of sixteen reinforced concrete segments, which were divided into two groups with different concrete covers. Within each group, all segments were identical in all parameters, except the spacing of transverse reinforcement. The program was designed to study the influence of transverse reinforcement spacing on crack behaviour. A methodology including proposed expression for predicting the crack spacing in reinforced concrete members subjected to axial tension with variable transverse reinforcement spacing is presented. Keywords: cracking, crack spacing, crack width, membrane forces, reinforced concrete, tension, transverse reinforcement.
A selective review of cracking of partially prestressed concrete members is presented. The main studies, together with the resulting methods for calculating maximum crack width, are critically examined. From an analysis of published test results it is shown that, in the light of the sparse data available, there is no point in using a complicated crack width formula for partially prestressed members. A simple expression for calculating crack width is proposed, which involves only the calculation of stress in the non-prestressed reinforcement. A strong case is made for further research in this area so that effects of the controlling parameters may be considered, where necessary. Key words: concrete (prestressed), cracking, crack width, partial prestressing.
Methods for use in the flexural analysis and design of a partially prestressed concrete section are outlined. A typical design example is presented and the results obtained by different design methods are compared. Methods proposed by Moustafa, Naaman and Siriaksorn, Bachmann, and Nilson are all suitable for design purposes. The graphs developed by Moustafa are useful in expediting design. The method proposed by Abeles, which is based on the use of a fictitious tensile stress in the concrete, is generally not recommended. Key words: concrete (prestress), design, flexure, partial prestressing.
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