An analytical approach for calculating crack width of RC members: Pure shear method

Abstract

Nowadays Serviceability Limit State (SLS) of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures is becoming a more and more important object of research among scientists and engineers. One of the most relevant topics of SLS is cracking due to its significant impact on the longevity and durability as well as aesthetic appearance of the structure. However, up until this day all theoretical models, dedicated to determining the most important characteristic of cracking behavior – crack width, are still highly debatable due to the high variation in the correspondence of the theoretical to experimental results. In this paper a new simple analytical approach for calculating average crack width of reinforced concrete members subjected to external short–term loading is presented. The new model is based on the concept of sole shear displacement occurring in the cover thickness of concrete due to the tangential stresses resulted by bonding. Theoretical crack width results obtained using the new approach are compared to the experimental results of tensile and bending members tested by different authors and the theoretical results of Eurocode 2 and Model Code 2010.