World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

International Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Vol:9, No:1, 2015

Crack Width Evaluation for Flexural RC Members

with Axial Tension
Sukrit Ghorai

 procedures for calculation of crack width, however the focus

Abstract—Proof of controlling crack width is a basic condition of the code is for sections under bending or pure tensile force.
for securing suitable performance in serviceability limit state. The The code is silent for design of section under bending with
cracking in concrete can occur at any time from the casting of time to tensile force. An eccentrically loaded section is important in
the years after the concrete has been set in place. Most codes struggle
design as it illustrates the solution to the real world problems.
with offering procedure for crack width calculation. There is lack in
availability of design charts for designers to compute crack width The method specified in the code for computation of crack
with ease. The focus of the study is to utilize design charts and width is tedious. In addition, there exists a method for crack
parametric equations in calculating crack width with minimum error. control without direct calculation, not recommended for
The paper contains a simplified procedure to calculate crack width bridge design in the code.
Open Science Index, Civil and Environmental Engineering Vol:9, No:1, 2015 waset.org/Publication/10000347

for reinforced concrete (RC) sections subjected to bending with axial Lack of simplified design approach motivated the study of a
tensile force following the guidelines of Euro code [DS EN-1992-1-1
method to help the engineers calculate the crack width with
& DS EN-1992-1-2]. Numerical examples demonstrate the
application of the suggested procedure. Comparison with parallel ease. A simplified procedure offered in the literature will
analytical tools supports the validity of result and show the allow an engineer to compute crack width without going into
percentage deviation of crack width in both the procedures. The rigorous calculations of the code. One can find the solution to
technique is simple, user friendly and ready to evolve for a greater the problem with the help of design charts and parametric
spectrum of section sizes and materials. equations mentioned in the paper.
Furthermore, to check the validity of results from the
Keywords—Concrete structures, crack width calculation, method, the crack width from the method is compared with
serviceability limit state, structural design, bridge engineering.
results obtained from design procedure mentioned in [1]-[3].
NOTATION
II. CALCULATION OF CRACK WIDTH ACCORDING TO [4] AND
P – Axial Force (Compressive (+)/Tensile (-)) [5]
M – Moment
b – Width of section The basis of the crack width calculation to [4] and [5]
d – Effective depth of section presented here is considering the simplified case of a
h – Depth of section reinforced concrete prism in tension. The member will first
L – Length of section crack when the tensile strength of the weakest section is
As – Area of tensile steel
reached. Cracking leads to a local redistribution of stresses
wk – Characteristic Crack width
sr,max – Maximum crack spacing adjacent to the crack by strain distributions. At the crack, the
xna – Depth of neutral axis from top of section entire tensile force is carried by the reinforcement. Moving
sm – Mean strain of reinforcement in the length sr, max away from the crack, tensile stress is transferred from the
cm – Mean strain of concrete in the length sr, max reinforcement by bond to the surrounding concrete and,
fct,eff – Mean value of tensile strength in concrete therefore, at some distance from the crack, the distribution of
 – Modular ratio Es/Ec stress is unaltered from that before the crack formed. At this
Ac,eff – Effective tension area = b x hc,eff
location, the strain in concrete and reinforcement is equal and
p, eff – Effective reinforcement ratio = As/Ac,eff
Hc,eff – Min. of 2.5(h-d), (h-xna)/3, h/2
the stress in the concrete is just below its tensile strength.
 – Diameter of reinforcement bar The design procedure for calculating crack width is as
c – Clear cover of the reinforcement follows:
P/M(%) – Percent ratio of Axial force to Moment (always positive
value) , (1)
The maximum crack spacing is defined as:
I. INTRODUCTION

L IMITING crack width is one of the two basic conditions , / ,            (2)

for securing suitable performance of structure in 
serviceability limit state: deformation and crack width The mean strain in reinforcement is defined as:
limitations. The Eurocode has pursued in providing
,
,
,
Sukrit Ghorai is with Bridge Department, COWI India Private Limited.
0.6 (3)
121, Phase - I, Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon - 122 016, Haryana India (e-mail:
[email protected]).

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 9(1) 2015 35 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Vol:9, No:1, 2015

Note:
N
k1 = 0.8 (high bond
b bars), 1.66 (bars with pllain surface) In order to understand
u thhe procedure in a simply way,w a
k2 = 0.5 (bendinng), 1.0 (pure tension) sysstematic proccedure to caalculate the crack width is as
k 3.4 25 . folllows:
k4 = 0.425 1. The percenntage ratio of tensile force to t moment (PP/M) is
Kt = 0.6 (short terrm loading), 0.44 (long term loaading) calculated and linear equation is i found foor the
The values of
o the co-efficiient considereed are relevantt to correspondiing moment ffrom Fig. 2 in n the form y = Ax +
brridge structurees. B where 'x' is the P/M raatio. For clarityy only momennt with
The calculatiion of crack width
w by usingg [4] and [5] requires
r magnitude of 250KN Nm, 500KNm m, 750KNm m and
loot of time and complicity. Engineers
E requuire understannding in 1000KNm are shown buut for intermeediate equatioons can
thhe evaluation of neutral aaxis in RC section s subjected to also be fouund by interppolation of P//M percentagge ratio
beending with axial tensile foorce. Hence, thhere is no sim mplified from the graph as well.
m
method availabble for the calcculation of craack width.

III. PROPOSED
D METHOD FORR CALCULATIOON OF CRACK WIDTH
R RC SECTIONS
FOR S WITH AXIAL
L TENSION
The proposed herein method,m utilizzes the calcculation
prrocedure givenn in [4] and [[5] with the help
h of design graphs
Open Science Index, Civil and Environmental Engineering Vol:9, No:1, 2015 waset.org/Publication/10000347

annd empirical equations to calculate crack width off a RC

seection under tensile force. The
T main inteent of the papper is to
vaalidate the proocedure of thee literature. Thhus, only one section
sizze and materiial is used to ccalculate the crack
c width too assure
thhe authenticityy of the methood.

Fig. 2 Crack w
width vs P/M Ratio
R
Fig. 1 Eccenntric normal forrce in tension acting
a on a sectiion

Fig. 1 showws a typical rectangular section

s subjected to
beending and axxial tension. T
The paper foccuses on sectiion and
m
material properrties mentioneed in
TABLE I.
T
TABLE I
SECTION AND MATERIAL PROPEERTIES
Parameter Valuue Unit
fck 35 MPa
fcm 43 MPa
fct,eff 3.22 MPa Fig. 3 M
Moment vs A
Ecm 340000 MPa
fyk 5000 MPa
Es 2000000 MPa
c 500 mm
c 1.388 -
s 1.144 -
fcd 25.441 MPa
fyd 438.660 MPa
h 10000 mm
b 10000 mm
k1 0.88 -
k2 0.55 -
k3 2.1419 -
k4 0.4225 -
kt 0.44 - Fig. 4 M
Moment vs B

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 9(1) 2015 36 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Vol:9, No:1, 2015

A reinforced concrete secttion of a beam m is reinforceed with

2. It is difficult to find prrecisely the co-efficient
c A and B 49910mm2/m tensile
t reinfforcement in the form m of
using Fig. 2. So, it is recommended
r d to find out the co- Ф2 25@100mm. Calculate the crack width of o the section
n for an
efficients by
b using Fig gs. 3 and 4 respectively for the axial tensile forcce of 50KN annd a moment of 250KNm.
correspond ding moment. As the co-effficients and variable
v Axial Force, P = -50KN
'x' are known, crack width can be deetermined. Ho owever, Moment, M = 250KNm
the crack width
w calculaated is for a standard
s tensiile steel We know th hat the variatiion of P/M percentage
p vss crack
area of Y25 5 @ 100mm cc/c. wiidth follows a linear variattion. The equ uation will be in the
3. The calculation of crack k width with different
d tensiile steel forrm of y = Ax + B where x iis the P/M perrcentage and y refers
area other than standardd can be easily y computed. This
T can to the crack wid dth of the secttion. In order to
t find out thee value
be done by y finding out a modificatio on factor to th
he crack off A and B, Figss. 3 and 4 are used respectiv vely.
width with h standard rein nforcement. A factor is fou und out For P/M % = 50/250 x 1000 = 20
with the help of Fig g. 5 and empirical
e equuations. From Fig. 3, A = 0.0002
Multiplying the modifi fication factorr with crack k width From Fig. 4, B = 0.0452
obtained from
fr Fig. 2 giives the required crack wiidth for Using y = Ax x+B
any area off steel. Crack width = 0.0002 x 200 + 0.0452 = 0.0492mm
0
Validation: (b
by rigorous prrocedure as peer DS-EN1992 2)
(4) Crack width = 0.048mm
Open Science Index, Civil and Environmental Engineering Vol:9, No:1, 2015 waset.org/Publication/10000347

, % Error = 2.00%, Hence OK K

(5)
,
Example 2
(6)
. A section of a beam is reiinforced with 2010mm2/m tensile
max , (7) reiinforcement in n the form of Ф16@100m mm. Calculatee crack
, (8) wiidth of the section
s for axxial tensile force
f of 50K KN and
mo oment of 250K KNm.
Note:
N Axial Force, P = -50KN
1 = 0.44 Moment, M = 250KNm
2 = 7.01E-0
04 In order to finnd out the vallue of A and B, Figs. 3 and d 4 are
3 = 0.027 useed respectivelly.
4 = 5.88 For P/M % = 50/250 x 1000 = 20
 = 2.41E-04
4 From Fig. 3, A = 0.0002
 = 0.0002 From Fig. 4, B = 0.0452
Using y = Ax x+B
Crack width = 0.0002 x 200 + 0.0452 = 0.0492mm
0
The crack wid dth calculatedd is for sectionn with reinforccement
off Ф25@100mm m. However to find out th he reinforcemment of
Ф1 16@100mm, modification
m ffactor needs to
o be found ouut.
From Fig. 5, Neutral
N axis ddepth from top p, xna= 230mm m
As neutral axis of thhe section is i determineed for
corresponding steel
s area of ФФ16@100mm m, moment of Inertia
cann be calculateed using the standard formu ula for a rectaangular
secction.
Moment of In nertia about neeutral axis, Ixxx = 2.8E+10m mm4
With known values of P and M, ecceentricity (e) can c be
callculated (e = M/P). Pleease note th hat the eccen ntricity
 callculated of axxial force P is from the centter of the rectaangular
secction. Furtherr to it, a leveer arm distancce of the axiaal load
g. 5 Area of Steeel vs Neutral Ax
Fig xis Depth
fro
om the neutrall axis needs too be computed d.
Lever arm off force P from neutral axis, z = -5270mm
IV. NUMER
RICAL EXAMP
PLES
Finding mom ment about neuutral axis for th he axial force:
Further to th
he detailed prrocedure, exaamples shown n in the Mna = 264KN Nm
seection aim too cover a varriety of prob blems that may
m rise As the momeent about neutrral axis and moment
m of Inerrtia are
appplying the offfered proceduure. In the ex
xamples, sectiion and knnown, hence stress on anny fiber of the t section can
c be
m
material propeerties corresp
pond to thee basic paraameters callculated.
m
mentioned in Tensile stresss in steel, s = 157.44MPa
TABLE I. n in steel, sm = s / Es = 0.00
Tensile strain 008
Example 1 From (5), 2 = 2.068

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 9(1) 2015 37 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Vol:9, No:1, 2015

From (7), sm - cm = 4.72E-04

From (6), 3 = 2.36
From (4), 1 = 1.25
Modified Crack width = 1.25 x 2.36 x 0.0492 = 0.143mm
Validation: (by rigorous procedure as per DS-EN1992)
Crack width = 0.142mm
% Error = 1.0%, Hence OK

V. CONCLUSION
A simple procedure presented is in line with the proposed
procedure in [4] and [5]. It allows user to calculate crack
width with ease and minimum error. However, the paper
illustrates the method for one particular section size and
material property, but the procedure is applicable for different
parameters as well. It is helpful if multiple design charts and
corresponding empirical equations can be generated for
different variables so that it can be scaled to a larger level. The
Open Science Index, Civil and Environmental Engineering Vol:9, No:1, 2015 waset.org/Publication/10000347

design examples mentioned in the paper are found to be in

good agreement with adopted design methodology in
Eurocode and design guides of Eurocode.

REFERENCES
[1] Design Guide to EN 1992-2, Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete
Structures, Part 2: Concrete Bridges , C.R Hendy and D.A Smith.
[2] Technical Ståbi - Bjarne Chr. Jensen (Ed.).E. H. Miller
[3] Designers' Handbook to Eurocode 2: 1. Design of concrete structures -
A. W. Beeby, R. S. Narayanan.
[4] DS-EN 1992, Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures, Part 1-1:
General rules and rules for buildings.
[5] DS-EN 1992, Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures, Part 1-2:
Concrete bridges – Design and detailing rules.

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 9(1) 2015 38 ISNI:0000000091950263