A novel concept of crack analysis: prediction of mean crack spacing in FRP reinforced concrete beams

Abstract

Crack analysis has been, up until the present moment, a matter of empirical and semi-empirical modelling techniques. The present paper studies the applicability of a new analytical cracking prediction model to flexural structural members realized with FRP reinforced concrete (fibre-reinforced polymer). This new model, developed by the authors of the paper (Kaklauskas, accepted), was originally developed to study the cracking phenomena inside steel-reinforced concrete (RC) members with the goal of improving the serviceability models and therefore providing more consistent crack prediction results. The paper will tackle the prediction of the mean spacing between an RFP-RC member's primary cracks in the stabilized cracking stage. The fundamental aspect upon which the mean crack spacing is calculated is the compatibility of stress transfer and mean strain approaches which will be defined later in more detail.