Liquid Retaining Structures: Crack-Width & Reinforcement Review
Liquid Retaining Structures: Crack-Width & Reinforcement Review
Tightness Class 1 and 2 corresponds to 0.2 mm and crack-width (wk) is often dened as a product of
0.1 mm crack-width limit respectively, allowing for maximum crack-width (wm) and a scatter factor (b).
the cracks to pass through the full thickness of the Thus the characteristic crack-width (wk) is given as
section. Tightness Class 3 corresponds to a crack-
wk = bwm = bsm esm (1)
width limit of 0.1 mm, and the crack shall not pass
through the entire thickness of the section. where b is taken as a value between 1.5 and 2.0, sm is
However, although several researchers across the the average value of crack spacing, and esm is the
world have worked on the subject, there is no average difference between the strains in concrete
consensus on the formula used for crack-width and steel between two consecutive cracks.
calculation or the spacing of crack-width [4]. The
crack-width calculation models can be classied 2.1 Crack-width expression as reported by
into the following categories (i) analytical models, various researchers
wherein the differential equation of bond-slip is
The crack-width expressions proposed in the code
used to solve the crack-width, (ii) semi-analytical
are based on the studies and proposals based on
models, wherein the bond stress or strain is
various researchers works. Some of the salient
included to solve the differential equation of bond-
research works reported in the literature and
slip with suitable simplications, (iii) empirical
adopted by various codes to predict the crack-
models, wherein the crack-width formulae are
width are discussed in this section.
based on tting of experimental data, and (iv)
numerical models, wherein fracture mechanics In 1956, Clark[8] carried out an exhaustive
models or FEM are employed to determine the experimental campaign with over 300 data points
crack-width [5]. of crack-widths and developed an empirical
expression for the crack-width calculation. The
In this paper, a review of the crack-width formulae
characteristic crack-width (wk) is given as
available in the literature are presented and the
basis for the IS 3370 crack-width formula (2)
established. Further, the crack-width formulae in
other international codes such as the Eurocode [6] where h is the overall height of the section, d is the
and ACI 224 [7] are discussed. An example of effective depth, f is the diameter of the
crack-width calculation (as per IS 3370) using two reinforcement bar, r is the steel ratio, ss2 is the stress
different methods is presented and the anomalies in steel at the location of the crack and m is the
in the crack-width calculation are discussed with a modular ratio.
parametric study. Similar parametric studies on In 1963, Kaar and Mattock [9] carried out more tests
the Eurocode and ACI are also presented and the on reinforced concrete members and introduced
need for improving the current crack-width codal the following variables on which the crack-width
provisions in IS 3370 is established. depended on, viz. area of concrete surrounding the
reinforcement (Ac,eff), stress in the steel at the
2. Codal Formulae for Crack-Width location of the crack (ss2) and a factor R which
Assessment estimates the strain at the tension face of the
concrete. The empirical equation proposed by Kaar
The crack-width formulae usually predict the
and Mattock is
maximum crack-width with a specied probability
of exceedance (genrally 95%). The characteristic (3)
where R is given as (h-x)/(d-x), where h is the overall In 1968, Gergely and Lutz [14] developed an
depth of the section, d is the effective depth from empirical equation to predict the crack-width
the compression bre and x is the depth of the based on an extensive statistical analysis of
neutral axis from the compression bre. experimental data. The key parameters affecting
the crack-width were identied as the stress in steel
Broms [10] proposed the stress circle concept. The
and the area of the concrete surrounding the
cracks would form when the tensile stress within
concrete. The proposed equation was adopted by
the stress circle exceeded and further secondary
the ACI code till 1995. The crack-width is given as
cracks would form with the stress circles when
concrete is subjected to higher stresses. A
(8)
simplied semi-analytical expression was
developed based on the assumption that crack- Leonhardt [15] improved on the formula proposed
width can be calculated by multiplying the strain in by Borges [12] and developed an analytical
steel with the crack spacing. However, this formulation to calculate the crack-width. It is
applicable with a certain interval of the stress in assumed that in the proximity of the crack, the
steel (138 MPa to 207 MPa) and cover (c) within (32 bond between the concrete and steel is completely
mm to 76 mm). The crack-width formula proposed lost. Based on this concept, the crack-width is given
by Broms is given as as
wk = [4 (c + f/2)] ss2/Es (4) (9)
where f is the diameter of the reinforcing bar and Es
is the modulus of elasticity of the steel. where a is 1.4 for pure tension and 1.6 for bending,
the transfer length ltr is given as ltr = k1 + 0.7k2 f/r,
Broms and Lutz [11] improved the formula
where k1 is factor depending on the depth of the
proposed by Broms using the concept of an
cover and k2 is a factor depending on the shape of
effective cover thickness (te). This semi-empirical the tensile stress diagram.
formula is applicable when the bar spacing is more
than 4 to 5 times that of the concrete cover. The In 1979, Beeby [16] proposed an alternative
crack-width is given as analytical approach to predict the crack-width. He
introduced the concept that plane sections do not
wk = 4te ss2/Es (5) remain plane and substituted the bond-slip theory
where the effective cover thickness is given as with a no-slip theory. In this formulation, it is
assumed that the length of stress changes at the
2 2
te = Ö((a/4) + (h-d) ) (6) location of the crack and that at the undisturbed
concrete is equal to the cover thickness. Unlike
Borges [12] developed a semi-analytical
other formulations which adopt the 95 percentile
formulation to relate crack spacing as a function of
condence limit for the characteristic crack-width,
the concrete cover c, bar diameter f and the
this formula has 20 percent chance of being
effective reinforcement ratio (f/r). The concept
exceeded. Hence, the conservatism involved in this
proposed by Borges is still used in the Eurocode [6]
formulation is lower than the other formulations.
and the MC 10 code [13], with a slight modication The crack-width expression proposed by Beeby
to the transfer length, according to the bond-slip was incorporated in the British Code for concrete
theory. The crack-width is given as CP 110 [17] and later in the IS 456 code [18] and IS
(7) 3370 [1], which is still in use. The crack-width
expression is given as
em = e1 - e2 (19)
(15)
where e1 is the 'apparent' strain at the point under
where consideration at the surface, based on the
conventional 'cracked' section analysis using the
(16) modular ratio concept given by:
(20)
and the average bond stress is given as
The strain 2 in Eq. 19 corresponds to the reduction
due to tension stiffening effect. The Code (Annex B-
(17) 3) recommends the following empirical
expressions for 2, for concrete in exure,
depending on whether the target crack width is 0.2
mm or 0.1 mm (considering a' = D = t):
The denition of individual terms can be found in
the original publications cited in this paper. for wk = 0.1 mm (21)
5
Þ fst = Es e1 = (2×10 )(0.001177) = 235.4 MPa this needs to be veried for all cases and hence a
allowable > 196.4 MPa; hence safe for 0.1 mm crack- parametric study using the two methods is
width. reported in the next section.
Crack-width control check under direct tension
(Method 2) 4. Parametric analysis and
The second method is a direct method. The values
comparison with different code
of acr, e2 and fst are 95.24, 0.000827 and 196.4 MPa and experiments
respectively. To study the reinforcement required to satisfy the
The strain in steel e1 = fst/Es = 196.46/(2 × 10 ) =
5
crack-width criteria of 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm, a design
0.000982. example is chosen where the force in the concrete is
monotonically increased. Based on the design
The crack-width w can be estimated as
requirement the percentage of reinforcement is
w = 3 acr (e1 - e2) = 3 × 95.24 × (0.000982 - 0.000827) = calculated and reported. For the sake of the
0.044 mm (< 0.1 mm - Hence safe) parametric demonstration, a circular water tank
If the same design is repeated for 0.2 mm crack- (with diameter less than 14 m is considered, this is
width using the two methods, done in order to keep the results consistent with
respect to the minimum steel requirements, which
Method 1 is a function of the tank diameter). The thickness of
Considering a crack-width limit of 0.1 mm, the tank is considered to be 250 mm (to ensure two
layers of reinforcement are provided). The height
w = 3 acr (e1 - e2) = 0.2 mm
of the tank is considered as 5.25 m, compressive
where acr = Ö(s/2)2 + dc2) - db/2 = Ö(110/2)2 + (85)2 - 6 strength of concrete is 30 MPa, yield strength of
= 95.24 mm steel is 500 MPa, coefcient of thermal expansion is
e2 = (2bt D)/(3Es Ah) = 2(1000×170))/(3(2×10 )
5 1.2 × 10-5 /°C. The fall in temperature between the
(1028)) = 0.000551 hydration and peak is chosen as 30°C. To ensure
the study simulates in practical scenarios, the
Þ e1 = wcr/(3acr) + e2 = 0.2/(3(95.24)) + 0.000551 minimum spacing in the reinforcement is limited to
5
> (0.5×500)/(2×10 ) = 0.00125 = (Hence 80 mm, if the reinforcement spacing is less than 80
higher steel is needed in order to satisfy the mm as per the design calculations then the bar
crack-width limit of 0.2 mm). This implies diameter is increased in a pre-dened manner and
that higher steel is needed to satisfy a crack- the analysis is re-run to check the crack-width.
width of 0.2 mm in comparison of 0.1 mm.
The analysis begins with the minimum steel
This clearly is not consistent with the
requirement based on IS 3370 for temperature and
expected behaviour.
moisture criteria. As the force increases the crack-
Method 2 width starts governing the design and a percentage
The crack-width w can be estimated as of steel higher than the minimum is required. In
Fig. 1, the results using IS 3370 (with Method 1)
w = 3 acr (e1 - e2) = 3 × 95.24 × (0.000982 - 0.000551) =
applied are demonstrated. From Fig 1(a), it can be
0.123 mm (< 0.2 mm - Hence safe)
seen that for an allowable crack-width (wall) of 0.1
The second method, however, tends to an expected mm, the minimum reinforcement governs till a
solution wherein the 0.2 mm limiting crack-width force value of 320 kN, while for 0.2 mm crack-
criteria is satised with no extra steel. However, width, up to a force of 280 kN, minimum
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Fig.1 : Parametric studies using the IS 3370 formulation (Method 1). (a) Percentage of steel required for a crack-width of
0.1 mm and 0.2 mm at different force levels (b) Variation of percentage of steel and stress in steel
(c) Variation of stress in steel and force on concrete (d) Diameter used at various force levels.
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
(e)
Fig. 2 : Parametric studies using the IS 3370 formulation (Method 2). (a) Percentage of steel required for a crack-width of
0.1 mm and 0.2 mm at different force levels (b) Variation of percentage of steel and stress in steel (c) Variation of stress in
steel and force on concrete (d) Diameter used at various force levels (e) Comparison of crack-width at different force levels.
In Fig. 2, the results using IS 3370 (with Method 2) This parametric study shows that the crack-width
applied are demonstrated. From Fig 1(a), it can be calculations done using IS 3370 may need a relook.
seen that for an allowable crack-width (wall) of 0.1 An additional study is carried out by Lapi et al. [12]
mm, the minimum reinforcement governs till a wherein a total of 380 tests reported in literature are
force value of 380 kN, while for 0.2 mm crack- studied and the theoretically calculated crack-
width, up to a force of 180 kN, minimum widths wtheo are compared with those observed in
reinforcement is required. However, on further the tests wtest. It is found that the mean, covariance
increase of force, it can be seen that the steel and 5 percentile values for various codes are as
required in the case of 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm crack- shown in Table 1.
width is the same at a few locations (up to a force of
Table 1 : Statistical comparison of wtheo/ wtest
520 kN). On further increase of the load, the 0.1 mm
crack-width shows higher steel demands in Code Mean CoV 5%-q
comparison with 0.2 mm crack-width, this is IS 3370 0.73 0.56 0.25
attributable to the change in the diameter of the bar
as seen in Fig 2(d). The stress in steel also uctuates ACI 0.97 0.43 0.54
as seen in Fig 2(b) and (c) due to the change in the EC2 0.96 0.31 0.5
diameter of the bar.
MC10 0.94 0.32 0.5
Parametric studies are also carried out on the same
design example using the Eurocode and ACI code. Debernardi 1.21 0.32 0.7
The results of this study are plotted in Fig 3(a) and It can be seen that the IS 3370 code gives the lowest
3(b). It is clear from the two plots that using both mean, indicating that the conservatism involved in
Eurocode and ACI code, the percentage steel is the crack-width calculation is lowest with respect
consistently higher when 0.1 mm crack-width to the codes compared. ACI, Eurocode and MC 10
criteria is applied in place of 0.2 mm crack-width seem to have a similar mean value ranging from
criteria. 0.94 to 0.97 with a lower covariance. The best
(a) (b)
Fig. 3 : Parametric studies showing percentage of steel required for a crack-width of 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm at
different force levels using the (a) Eurocode and (b) ACI code
performing model was the crack-width model and then the equations are accordingly
proposed by Debernardi and Taliano [20]. chosen to verify whether the crack-width is
within the limiting range, a more straight-
5. Conclusions and Acknowledge- forward method, as demonstrated in Method
ments 1 in this paper, seems to be a better alternative
wherein the stresses in the steel are checked if
Based on the thorough review of the crack-width
they are within acceptable limit.
formulations presented in literature and the
analysis of crack-width using the international (iii) On comparison with experiments it is clear
codes of practise, the following conclusions can be that the conservatism offered using the IS
drawn. 3370 method, which uses the no-slip theory,
is rather limited. From a design perspective,
(i) The crack-width formulation prescribed in IS
it appears that the Eurocode or MC 10
3370 needs a re-look as there are anomalies in
formulation seem to be much suitable,
the steel required to satisfy the crack-width. It
offering enough conservatism in the design.
is demonstrated through a design example
and also through parametric study that the (iv) Since the IS 3370 method is based on Beeby's
steel required for both limiting values of formulation, where it is assumed that the
crack-width (0.1 mm and 0.2 mm) are either plane sections do not remain plane, the linear
same or at times greater in the case of 0.2 mm strain prole assumption used in the crack-
crack-width. width calculation also needs to re-looked.
(ii) The approach used in the crack-width The author wishes to acknowledge the support
calculation (discussed in this paper as offered by Mr. Samagra Vijaywargiya, M.Tech
Method 2), which is popularly used in design student of IIT Bombay while working as an intern
also needs a re-look. In this approach, the with the author.
crack-width is rst xed as 0.1 mm or 0.2 mm
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