Does the degree of tensile strain have an impact on the cracking behavior of vertical structural elements?

Abstract

Abstract Given the random nature of crack formation, research into reinforced concrete members in the context of cracking behavior proves difficult. Therefore, widely accepted methodologies for predicting crack characteristics, e.g. crack width and spacing and number of cracks, have not been developed yet. Furthermore, cracking for members strained to high degrees of elongation, as happens during earthquakes, has not been investigated before. This experimental work aims to look into the impact, primarily of tensile deformation’s mechanical factor, in terms of cracking behaviour. Four test specimens were strained under uniaxial tensile loading. The degrees of elongation used were equal to 10‰, 20‰, 30‰ and 50‰. Useful conclusions concerning cracking behaviour are derived.