A new approach in predicting the mean crack spacing of flexural reinforced concrete elements

Abstract

This study aims at developing an innovative way of modelling cracking of reinforced concrete flexural elements. An approach based on the equality of the mean crack spacing of two distinct approaches, namely, the smeared and the discrete crack based philosophies. Combining this idea with a completely new concept of the central zone, it is possible to accurately predict the mean crack spacing of various reinforced concrete elements, without relying on much empiricism. The bond in this new area is assumed to be damaged, as is the case for the damage zones near the cracks. The total crack spacing value can be estimated with the knowledge of the damage, effective and central zone models and the mean strain compliance principle. The authors propose a simple model for the length of the central zone, together with a robust mechanical explanation of the strain compliance principle. The crack spacing was shown to be dependent on the height of the beam, more specifically, the parameter d-x.