Crack Spacing and Width of Thick High Strength Reinforced Concrete Panels

Abstract

Experimental program involved testing of eighteen panels to study the cracking behavior of thick high strength concrete panels subjected to in-plane tensile forces, was conducted. The influence of different parameters such as concrete strength fc′, reinforcement ratio ρeff, concrete cover to bar diameter ratio ( Cc/ db), and applying axial or biaxial loading, was critically examined. Model equations developed for predicting crack spacing and width of thick concrete plates were discussed. Using high strength concrete reduced the average crack width measured at every steel stress level. The bar spacing and the concrete cover showed a significant influence on the crack spacing and consequently on the measured crack width. Panels tested under biaxial loading triggered higher crack spacing and crack width compared with the corresponding panels subjected to axial loading. Design equations for predicting the crack spacing and width of thick concrete members are presented parallel with the available code provisions.