Analysis of Tension Creaking behavior in Reinforced Concrete Bar

Abstract

The crack formation as a typical damage phenomenon in the reinforced concrete structures can not be avoided. The structural engineer in the practice however gives efforts to limit the width of cracks according to design standards. The cracking behavior in a reinforced concrete member with normal strength of concrete may have been sufficiently investigated and design standards, e.g. ACI-Building Code, CEB-FIP MC90, suggest some formulas to determine the crack behavior e.g. crack spacing, crack width, transfer length, tension stiffening effect and so on.

The purpose of this paper is to review the prediction formulas for tension cracking behavior suggested in CEB-FIP MC90. A numerical model in a crack element with a half-length of the crack spacing was formulated in which the cracking behavior can be investigated in detail. Finally, the given formulas in the code were discussed.