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Title |
Theoretical Stiffness of Cracked Reinforced Concrete Elements
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Keywords |
cracked concrete; crack angle; truss model; constant angle trusss; variable angle truss; and cracked elastic stiffness |
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Abstract |
The purpose of this paper is to develop a mathematical expression for computing crack angles based on reinforcement volumes in the longitudinal and transverse directions, member end-fixity and length-to-width aspect ratio. For this a reinforced concrete beam-column element is assumed to possess a series of potential crack planes represented by a number of differential truss elements. Depending on the boundary condition, a constant angle truss or a variable angle truss is employed to model the cracked structural concrete member. The truss models are then analyzed using the virtual work method of analysis to relate forces and deformations. Rigorous and simplified solution schemes are presented. An equation to estimate the theoretical crack angle is derived by considering the energy minimization on the virtual work done over both the shear and flexural components the energy minimization on the virtual work done over both the shear and flexural components of truss models. The crack angle in this study is defined as the steepest one among fan-shaped angles measured from the longitudinal axis of the member to the diagonal crack. The theoretical crack angle predictions are validated against experimentally observed crack angle reported by previous researchers in the literature. Good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained.
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