The effect of the type of aggregate on the diagonal cracking of reinforced concrete beams

Abstract

Summary Comparative rests are reported on reinforced concrete beams without shear reinforcement made with different types of aggregate: two types of lightweight aggregate and one gravel aggregate were used. Other variables were the concrete strength and the type of reinforcement. The principal results of the tests were as follows. (1) For concretes of similar cube strength, the average diagonal cracking loads of the beams made with lightlveight aggregate were lower than those of the beams made with gravel aggregate. (2) The average diagonal cracking loads of beams reinforced with ordinary mild-steel were higher than those of the corresponding beams reinforced wirh an equivalent area of cold-worked deformed hars. (3) The diagonal cracking load increased with increasing concrete strength, the rate of increase heing similar for all three types of concrete.