THE INFLUENCE OF CRACK WIDTH ON THE DURABILITY OF REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Author(s): Blagojević, A., Koleva, D. A. and Walraven, J. C.
Paper category: Conference
Book title: XIII International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components - XIII DBMC
Editor(s): Marco Quattrone, Vanderley M. John
Print ISBN: none
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-149-0
Publication year: 2015
Pages: 834-841
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: According to structural design codes, including recent ones, crack width within serviceability limits plays a dominant role, hence contributes to structures-related costs. This research intends to shed more light on the role of crack width in relation to durability. An investigation is carried out, where crack width, crack frequency, concrete cover and type of loading are the dominant variables under study. The test series consists of reinforced concrete beams (1500×100×150 mm), exposed to wetting and drying cycles in order to simulate aggressive environment i.e. weekly, a 2 days ponding (3.5% NaCl solution) and 5 days drying cycles are altered. Longitudinal cracks lead to a considerable increase of the speed of corrosion. Crack frequency is recognised to play a role with regard to reinforcement corrosion. Crack width, however, could be a significant durability-related parameter as well, which is as adopted in most codes of practice. Indeed, if crack width is an important factor, it seems to be more appropriate to use the crack width at maximum service load, rather than at the frequent load or the quasi-permanent load. Justification of this latter approach is within the goals of this study, aiming to bring more accuracy in the current codes of practice.

Online publication: 2015
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00