5.2 Crack Control

Crack control
© 2019 Modulus Structural Engineering Ltd
Eurocode 2 - Contents
1. General 7. Serviceability limit state
2. Basis of design 8. Detailing – general
3. Materials 9. Detailing – particular rules
4. Durability 10. Precast concrete
5. Structural analysis 11. Lightweight concrete
6. Ultimate limit state 12. Plain concrete
Serviceability
There are three areas to consider for SLS:

1. Stress limitation Cl. 7.2
“Stress checks in reinforced concrete members
have not been required in the UK for the past 50
years or so and there has been no known
adverse effect. Provided that the design has
been carried out properly for ultimate limit state
there will be no significant effect at
serviceability in respect of longitudinal
cracking” PD 6687 Cl.
2.15
2. Crack control
Cl. 7.3
3. Deflection control
Cl. 7.4
Crack control
Cracking is controlled by:

• Providing minimum reinforcement areas
• Limiting bar size and spacing
A minimum area should always be provided. Cl. 7.3.2
Limiting size and spacing can be checked by

• Using simplified methods
• Using direct calculation Cl. 7.3.3
Cl. 7.3.4
Minimum reinforcement areas
The code provides two Expressions:
k ckf ct,eff Act

As ,min 
s Exp (7.1)
0.26 f ctm b t d
As ,min   0.013 b t d Exp (9.1N)
f yk
For rectangular section Exp (9.1N) can always be

used.
For flanged sections use Exp (7.1)
0.26 f ctm b t d Exp (9.1N)

As ,min   0.013 b t d
f yk
fck fctm Min %
25 2.6 0.13%
28 2.8 0.14%
30 2.9 0.15%
32 3 0.16%
35 3.2 0.17%
40 3.5 0.18%
45 3.8 0.20%
50 4.1 0.21%
k ckf ct,eff Act Exp (7.1)

As ,min 
s
Kc = coefficient due to the stress distribution
within a section prior to cracking:
= 1.0 for pure tension
= 0.4 for flexure only
k = coefficient allowing for non-uniform stresses
in the section:
=1 for webs, h  300 or flanges, bf < 300
= 0.65 for webs, h  800 or flanges, bf > 800
fct,eff = flexural tensile stress = fctm or fctm,fl
Act = concrete area in tension just before 1st crack
Crack width limits
Recommended values of wmax (mm) Table 7.1N
Exposure class RC or unbonded PSC members

PSC members with bonded
tendons
Quasi-permanent Frequent load
load
X0,XC1 0.3 0.2
XC2,XC3,XC4 0.3
XD1,XD2,XD3, Decompression
XS1,XS2,XS3
‘Decompression’
UK NA to
EN 1992-2,
Cmin,dur when tension face is NA.2.2
not in XD or XC condition
100 mm
Tension face
Crack control without calculation
Steel Max bar size Max bar spacing Tables 7.2N

stress wk= 0.3 wk= 0.2 wk= 0.3 wk= 0.2 & 7.3N
(MPa) mm mm mm mm
160 32 25 300 200
200 25 16 OR 250 150
240 16 12 200 100
280 12 8 150 50
320 10 6 100 -
360 8 5 50 -
Crack width calculation - basis
Section Neutral axis
(h - x)
Slab soffit
Crack width vs distance

Crack width predicted by
Actual crack width Expressions (7.8) & (7.14)
Crack
width
w
5(c + /2)
Crack width predicted by Expressions (7.8) & (7.11)

Crack width calculation

wk  s r, max  sm   cm  Exp (7.8)
s r , max maximum crack spacings
 sm mean strain in reinforcement
 cm mean strain in concrete between cracks
s  kt
f ct ,eff
 p, eff
1 Es/Ecm   p,eff
s
 sm   cm    0.6 Exp (7.9)
Es Es
kt factor dependent on duration of load
= 0.6 for short term, = 0.4 for long term

s r ,max  3.4c  0.425 k1k2
 p,eff Exp (7.11)
k1 coef. for bond properties of reinforcement = 0.8

k2 coef. for distribution of strain
= 0.5 for bending, = 1.0 for pure tension
 p,eff is the effective reinforcement ratio, As / Ac.eff , where As
is the area of reinforcement within an effective tension area of
concrete Ac.eff .Where hc,eff = Min{2.5(h-d);(h-x)/3;h/2}d
hc,eff
Effective
tension area Effective Figure 7.1
for this face tension area
d Effective for this face
h tension area
hc,eff
hc,eff
Beam
d
Effective h
tension area
Member in tension
hc,eff
Slab
Maximum crack spacing
sr,max= 3.4c + 0.425k1k2Φ /ρp,eff

c = (nominal) cover to the longitudinal reinforcement
k1= factor to take account on bond properties
= 0.8 for high bond bars
= 1.6 for plain bars
k2 = factor to take account of strain distribution
= 0.5 for flexure
Φ = bar diameter
When spacing > 5(c + Φ/2); sr,max = 1.3(h – x)
Difference in concrete and
reinforcement strain (εsm - εcm)
Strain diagram wk = s .(εsm - εcm)

(sr,max includes fos of 1.7)
εcs ≤ εcult
Crack
Difference in concrete and reinforcement

strain
(εsm - εcm) may be calculated from:

f ct ,eff
 s  kt (1   e  p ,eff )
 p ,eff 
 sm   cm   0.6 s
Es Es
where:
σs = stress in the tension steel calculated using the cracked
concrete section
kt = factor that accounts for the duration of loading
= 0.6 for short-term load
= 0.4 for long-term load
αe = Es/Ec = modular ratio
Movement and cracking in
concrete
Main reference – CIRIA C766
History:
• CIRIA R91
• CIRIA C660
C766 is the most up to date

knowledge on cracking in
concrete
• Well researched
• Well presented
Early-age thermal effects
• The reaction of Portland cement causes an exothermic

reaction
• The temperature rise causes expansion
• As the concrete section cools to the ambient temperature it
shrinks
• Usually during expansion the concrete acts plastically and
so the effects are negligible
• During the cooling the concrete may have developed some
stiffness and any restraint may cause tension in the
concrete
• If the tensile strength of the concrete is exceeded it will
crack
When will concrete crack?

1a: Tensile strength
of concrete – under
variable actions
1b: Tensile strength

of concrete – under
permanent actions
2b: Drying shrinkage
stress, allowing for
creep
2a: Early-age
contraction stress,
allowing for creep
Autogenous healing
The flow of water through cracks can lead to autogenous

healing:
• For cracks up to 0.2 mm when the hydraulic gradient < 5 m
• For cracks up to 0.05 mm hydraulic gradient may be 35 m
Only occurs when member is not subject to significant changes

in loading or temperature during service.
The effect of cover
• Cracks tend to widen as the cover increases (not linearly)

• EN 1992-1-1 adopts cnom as the cover value to use
• C766 suggests that cmin is more appropriate
• Using the same logic, cmin,dur would be appropriate if the
crack width limit is based on durability
• When the crack is controlled by the inner layer of
reinforcement then cover should be taken as cover to the
outer layer plus bar diameter – this is conservative
Design process
1. Define the crack width, wmax

2. Define the affect of restraint
3. Estimate the magnitude of restrained strain, εr
4. Estimate the crack-inducing strain, εcr
5. Design the reinforcement control the spacing and width
Define the crack width, wmax
Cracks in concrete
Normal and expected

BS EN 1992-1-1:2004+A1:2014 (clause 7.3.1) states that: “Cracking
is normal in reinforced concrete structures subject to bending,
shear, torsion or tension resulting from either direct loading or
restraint to imposed deformations”.
Potential problems due to cracking
• Durability
• Water leakage
• Aesthetics
Crack Width Limits (Table 7.1N)

Excluding water-retaining
structures
Exposure class RC or unbonded Prestressed
PSC members members with
bonded tendons
Quasi-permanent load Frequent load
X0,XC1 0.3 0.2
XC2,XC3,XC4 0.3
XD1,XD2,XS1,XS2,
XS3 Decompression
Crack width limits for water-
retaining structures
Tight Requirements for leakage Suggested measures to meet the EN 1992-3
‐ness requirements Table 7.105
class
0 Leakage of liquids irrelevant Structure may be designed to
or some degree of leakage clause 7.3.1 of BS EN 1992‐1‐1
acceptable
1 Leakage to be limited to a Width of any cracks that can be
small amount. Some expected to pass through the full
surface staining or damp thickness of the section should be
patches acceptable. limited to wk,1
2 Leakage to be minimal. Cracks that may be expected to
Appearance not to be pass through the section should
impaired by staining. be avoided, unless special
measures are incorporated
3 No leakage permitted. Special measures will be required
Crack width limits - wk1
0.25 EN 1992-3
Cl.7.3.1(111)
0.2
0.15
wk1
0.1
0.05
0
0 10 20 30 40
Hydrostatic pressure/wall thickness
Crack width limits – notes
For tightness classes 2 and 3 the compression zone should be

at least xmin
xmin = Min{50mm; 0.2h} under quasi-permanent conditions
The provisions of Cl.7.3.1(111) assume self-healing will occur.

Self-healing can be assumed when the range of strain under
‘service’ conditions is less than 150 x 10-6
Calculation of crack width
Define the affect of restraint
Restraints
• Tensile stresses and therefore cracks only occur when

tension develops
• This is usually when movement is restrained or due to
flexure
• The restraint can be external or internal
• Internal restraint is significant for sections greater than 1 m
thick
• External restraint can be due to:
• End restraints
• Edge restraints
External restraint
External restraint – notes
Crack-inducing strain
Edge restraint
• The first crack influences only the distribution of the stress

locally – there is no relief from stress away from this area
• Crack width is dependent on the restrained strain rather
than the concrete tensile capacity
Edge restraint
C766 Complimentary expression
End restraint
• Suspended slabs between rigid walls

• Infill bays
• Each crack reaches its full potential before the next crack
occurs
• Strain is related to the strength of concrete and area of
reinforcement provided
End restraint crack inducing
strain
 1 
0.5 e k c kf ct ,eff  1  
  e  
 sm   cm   EN 1992-3 Exp (M.1)
Es
where
αe = Modular ratio Es /Ec
kc = 1.0 for pure tension
k = 1.0 for thickness h < 300mm
= 0.65 for h > 800mm
fct,eff = mean tensile strength when cracking may be first expected to
occur
= fctm
ρ = ratio of reinforcement area to gross section area of concrete in
tension
Es = Elastic modulus of reinforcement (200 GPa)
Ec = Elastic modulus of concrete at age under consideration (This
can be established using Exp(3.5))
Internal restraint
Minimum reinforcement
• Minimum reinforcement is provided to concrete structures

to control cracking
• There should be sufficient reinforcement to ensure that at a
crack position the reinforcement does not yield
uncontrollably
• In this case an new crack will appear in the member –
giving more small cracks
• The tensile strength of the concrete is critical in
determining the minimum area of reinforcement
As,min = kc k fct,eff Act /σs

where
As,min = minimum area of reinforcement
kc = 1.0 for pure tension
= for other situations refer to EC 2
k = 1.0 for thickness h < 300mm
= 0.65 for h > 800mm
Act = area of concrete in tension just prior to onset of
cracking
fct,eff = mean tensile strength when cracking may be first
expected to occur
= fctm
σs = absolute value of max stress in the reinforcement
= fyk
Minimum reinforcement with

prestress
Provided a bonded tendon is within 150 mm of the surface it
can be assumed to contribute to the area of reinforcement. An
additional term is added:
As,min + ξi Ap’ Δσp= kc k fct,eff Act /σs
where
Ap’ = area of the tendon within Ac,eff
Ac,eff = effective area of concrete in tension surrounding the
reinforcement (see figure)
𝝓𝒔
𝝃𝒊 𝝃
𝝓𝒑
ξ = ratio from Table
φs = largest reinforcing bar diameter
φp = diameter or equivalent diameter of prestressing steel
Table 6.2, ξ
Prestressing steel Pre-tensioned Bonded, post-tensioned

C50/60 C70/85
smooth bars and wires Not applicable 0.3 0.15
strands 0.6 0.5 0.25
indented wires 0.7 0.6 0.3
ribbed bars 0.8 0.7 0.35
Note: For intermediate values between C50/60 and C70/85
interpolation may be used.
φP =1.6 √AP for bundles
φP =1.75 φwire for single 7 wire strands where φwire is the
wire diameter
φP =1.20 φwire for single 3 wire strands where φwire is the
wire diameter
hc,ef = Min{2.5(h - d); (h - x)/3; h/2}
Effective
tension area
hc,eff
Slab
Minimum reinforcement in
pre-stressed members
Cl. 7.3.2(4) specifically notes that no minimum reinforcement
is required in pre-stressed members provided that the tensile
stress in the section is below fct,eff (=fctm)
Remember that early-thermal effects could require control

before the pre-stress is applied
Minimum area of reinforcement

Minimum area of reinforcement
Maximum crack spacing
sr,max= 3.4c + 0.425k1k2Φ /ρp,eff

c = (nominal) cover to the longitudinal reinforcement
k1= factor to take account on bond properties
= 0.8 for high bond bars
= 1.6 for plain bars
k2 = factor to take account of strain distribution
= 0.5 for flexure
Φ = bar diameter
When spacing > 5(c + Φ/2); sr,max = 1.3(h – x)
Proposed change to BS EN
1992-1-1 crack spacing
calculation
• The crack spacing is very sensitive to bond and for cracking
at early age, the risk of poor bond should be considered.
• Where good bond cannot be guaranteed, BS EN 1992-1-1
clause 8.4.2 recommends a reduction in bond strength by a
factor of 0.7.
• This may be accommodated by adjusting the coefficient for
bond k1 to a value of 0.8/0.7 = 1.14.
• The definition of poor bond should not be taken from Figure
8.2 of BS EN 1992-1-1. Instead it should be applied at early
age only to elements thicker than 300 mm, which also have
a cover ≤ 50 mm.
The Crack width may be calculated from:

wk = sr,max εcr
where
sr,max = maximum crack spacing
εcr = crack inducing strain for the appropriate form of
restraint
Simple method for continuous
edge restraint
Choice of parameters
Recording assumptions
• C766 provides latest

research data on the
design parameters to use
– a copy is essential to
undertake a assessment
of the cracking
• Table 4.1 is a checklist to
assist designers in making
the appropriate choices
Causes of temperature rise in
concrete
• Cement content
• Type of cement (CEM I, ggbs, fly-ash)
• Other concrete constituents
• Section thickness
• Formwork and insulation
• Concrete placing temperature
• Ambient conditions
• Active forms of temperature control
Temperature drop, T1
• Extensive research has

been carried out to
determine T1 and the
results are presented
within CIRIA C766.
• T1 can be obtained from
charts or a spreadsheet
• Simpler guidance on the
value T1 of is also
available from other older
sources
Temperature drop, T2
• Defined as difference between the mean ambient

temperature at early age and the minimum element
temperature likely in the course of the element’s life.
• C766 does not refer to EN 1991-1-5 but this is the
appropriate standard to use, with potentially the
modifications from TR67.
Coefficient of thermal expansion
• BS EN 1992-1-1 recommends that unless more reliable

information is available, the coefficient of thermal
expansion should be assumed as 10 με/°C.
• While this is a representative value for a wide range of
aggregates it is not representative of some commonly-used
materials such as particular flint gravels,
• Flint gravels have higher values in the order of 12-13 με/°C
• This 20 to 30 per cent difference in αc may be the difference
between conforming and nonconforming crack widths.
• The higher value should be assumed if no data are
available.
Coefficients of thermal
expansion (from Browne, 1972)
Autogenous and drying

shrinkage
Autogenous shrinkage
• Occurs in the early months
• It happens in the interior of the concrete
• Autogenous shrinkage occurs as a result of the chemical
reaction between the cement and the water
• Contraction of the cement paste is restrained by the
aggregate/hydrated cement matrix
Autogenous shrinkage is in addition to early thermal shrinkage

effects
Autogenous shrinkage
The autogenous shrinkage strain follows from:

εca(t) = βas(t) εca(∞)
where:
εca(∞) = 2.5 (fck – 10) 10-6
βas(t) = 1 – e(–0.2t 0.5)
t = time in days given in days
Autogenous shrinkage with time
Design aid –
70 year shrinkage strains
Autogenous
fck Shrinkage x 10-3
20 0.025
25 0.038
30 0.050
35 0.063
40 0.075
45 0.088
50 0.100
Drying shrinkage
Drying shrinkage
• Occurs over years as moisture is released into the
atmosphere
• CEM I concrete shrinks more than other concretes
• Member size and perimeter are also significant
• Dry environments cause more shrinkage
• Drying shrinkage depends on the migration of the water
through the concrete to the surface
• There is more water in the concrete than is required for
hydration
• If the concrete dries-out, then shrinkage will occur
Drying shrinkage
The final value of the drying shrinkage strain

εcd,∞ = kh εcd,0
Where
εcd,0 may be taken from Table 3.2 or from Exp (B.11)
kh = coefficient depending on the notional size h0
Eurocode 2 also gives guidance on calculated drying shrinkage
over time
h0 kh
100 1
200 0.85
300 0.75
500 0.7
Table 3.2 – εcd,0
fck/ Relative humidity

fck,cube
(MPa) 20 40 60 80 90 100
20/25 0.62 0.58 0.49 0.3 0.17 0
40/50 0.48 0.46 0.38 0.24 0.13 0
60/75 0.38 0.36 0.3 0.19 0.1 0
80/95 0.3 0.28 0.24 0.15 0.08 0
90/105 0.27 0.25 0.21 0.13 0.07 0
Shrinkage with time
Drying shrinkage strain in time can be calculated from:

εcd(t) = βds(t, ts) kh εcd,0
where
t = age of the concrete at the moment considered, in days

ts = age of the concrete (days) at the beginning of drying
shrinkage (or swelling). Normally this is at the end of
curing.
Design aid –
70 year shrinkage strains
fck Drying shrinkage x 10-3

20 0.688
25 0.651
30 0.616
35 0.583
40 0.552
45 0.522
50 0.494
Notes:
1. The values shown are based on Class R cement (Classes N and S have lower
values)
2. The values shown are appropriate when h0 = 150 mm. When h0 > 150 mm the
values will be lower.
Age of concrete important for
shrinkage effects
Restraint
Determine which type, or combination of types, is important
End restraint
Walls or slabs cast as infill.
Large area ground slabs
Edge restraint
Walls cast onto rigid
foundations
Adjacent sections of slabs
Restraint factors – EN 1992-3
EN 1992-3
Figure L1a &
b
Key 3 – Expansion of free contraction joints

1 – vertical restraint factors 4 – Whichever is greater
2 – Horizontal restraint factors – see Table L.1 5 – Potential primary cracks
Restraint factors – EN 1992-3
EN 1992-3
Figure L1c &
d
Key 3 – Expansion of free contraction joints

1 – vertical restraint factors 4 – Whichever is greater
2 – Horizontal restraint factors – see Table L.1 5 – Potential primary cracks
More on edge restraint
Restraining member inhibits cracking
ACI (2007) method for edge

restraint
Estimating the relative effective
areas
Adjustment of Rj for distance

from joint between new and old
concrete
End restraint – effect of stiffness
Tensile properties of concrete
Recommended that short-term cracking is checked at 3 days

Under sustained loading (such as crack inducing strain)
concrete will fail at lower stress
Recommended that lower values of tensile strength are used
Tensile strain, εctu
The effects of creep should be considered:

• The coefficient for creep at early age: Kc1 =0.65
• The coefficient for creep at late life: Kc2 = 0.50
Also the type of
aggregate
influences the
elastic modulus,
quartzite is used as
a base value in EN
1992-1-1
Variation of elastic modulus with

time
Variation of the modulus of elasticity with time can be
estimated:
Ecm(t) = (fcm(t)/fcm)0.3Ecm
where
Ecm(t) = Elastic modulus at an age of t days
fcm(t) = Mean concrete strength at an age of t days
Change in concrete strength
with time
fcm(t) = βcc(t) fcm
where:
fcm(t) = mean concrete compressive strength at age of t days
βcc(t) = coefficient which depends on the age of the concrete
  28 
12
s 1    
 cc t   e
  t  
s = coefficient which depends on the type of cement:

= 0.20 for Class R
= 0.25 for Class N
= 0.38 for Class S
Points to note
• Cracking is usually a serviceability condition

• Depending on the element there may be more or less risk
involved
• Water resisting basement is different from concealed slab
soffit
• The higher the concrete strength the more reinforcement
that is needed
Superposition of flexural cracks
and early-thermal movement
cracks
It has not been common practice to add crack widths from restrained
thermal and shrinkage deformations to those arising from structural
loading, with no reported detriment to structural performance. This
may be due to various factors such as:
• Early-age thermal stresses are often self-equilibrating, with creep
being a significant factor.
• Generally, moment effects are not coincident with early-age
thermal effects.
• If the full crack pattern has not been developed by restrained
contraction, new cracks are formed when loading is applied.
• Crack widths from flexure are more closely spaced than those
from restrained axial strains so additional cracks are generally
formed on application of loading.
More research in this area, including field observations, is required.
Concrete Basements
Goodchild and Narayanan
As discussed in Section 9.1.6, it is not generally necessary to
superimpose the effects of bending and direct tension with
tension from restraint. In many practical cases, particularly in
basement walls, stresses and strains caused by imposed
deformation (shrinkage and restraint) will be at right angles to
those caused by loading and therefore they need not be
combined.
However, there are cases where the effects will be additive.
For instance, when there is horizontal bending in a wall due to
lateral loading, the stresses and strains due to imposed
(shrinkage) deformation will be in the same direction and the
effects will be additive. In basement slabs that are designed as
suspended slabs but cast on ground, the stresses due to
restraint effects and loading will coincide and the effects again
will be additive.
Concrete Basements
Where it is necessary to combine the effects of restraint and
loading, the basic formula for crack width given above may be
used noting that the crack inducing strain will now be the sum
of the strain caused by restraint and loading effects assuming
a cracked section. This approach is largely empirical but is in
accordance with DD ENV 1992-1-1 4.4.2.4(6). It
accommodates combinations of long and short-term shrinkage
and tension stiffening and eccentricities. Adding strains may
be regarded as a reasonable way of estimating crack width
(but it is not a valid approach to calculate moments of
resistance). The outline for a (much) more detailed approach
to find neutral axis depth,stresses and strains is given in
Section B.3.
Concrete Basements
It will be noted that cracking relieves restraint stresses and
strains in adjacent uncracked sections. Besides combining
edge and end restraint, which traditionally are treated
separately, recent research[61] suggests that the relief of
restraint strain is related to the length of the member and
spacing (and number) of cracks. The formulae for edge and
end restraint strain may be thought to represent extreme
cases of infinitely long members. In members of finite length,
it would therefore appear plausible that the relief of restraint
strain limits the summation of mechanical and restraint
strains. (Note that cracks do not relieve strains in uncracked
sections of the same member subject to tension or constant
moment.) Until this theory has been justified and developed,
prudence dictates that calculated restraint and mechanical
strains should be simply added.
Example: Retaining wall on a
stiff foundation (edge restraint)
• The retaining wall is 4 m high and 0.5 m thick cast onto a
rigid foundation 0.8 m deep and 2.85 m wide.
• The wall is cast in 12 m lengths. The specified strength class
is C30/37. A binder containing 30 per cent fly ash (CEM IIB-
V) is specified.
• The pressure gradient across the lower part of the wall is
4/0.5 = 8 and the permissible crack width is 0.18 mm.
• The contract is in the south-east of England and flint gravel
aggregate is assumed.
• Reinforcement comprises 16 mm bars at 200 mm centres
with 40 mm minimum cover (50 mm nominal)
• Construction programme is unknown and summer casting is
assumed. No limits are placed on pour sequence, type of
formwork or insulation/cooling measures.
Solution
Speadsheet
Slide 87
Slide 57
Slide 89
Slide 107
Speadsheet
Lookup table slide 107
Slide 59
Slide 73
Slide 75
Slide 70
Slide 74
Slide 76
Now assess the long-term cracking
From earlier in calc
Slide 107
Slide 89
Use
graph
Use
graph
Slide 73
Slide 73
From above
From above
See step 11.2
Slide 74
Slide 76

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5.2 Crack Control

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Crack control

There are three areas to consider for SLS:

Cracking is controlled by:

A minimum area should always be provided. Cl. 7.3.2

Limiting size and spacing can be checked by

The code provides two Expressions:

k ckf ct,eff Act

For rectangular section Exp (9.1N) can always be

Minimum reinforcement areas

0.26 f ctm b t d Exp (9.1N)

k ckf ct,eff Act Exp (7.1)

Crack width limits

Recommended values of wmax (mm) Table 7.1N

Exposure class RC or unbonded PSC members

Crack control without calculation

Steel Max bar size Max bar spacing Tables 7.2N

Crack width vs distance

Crack width predicted by Expressions (7.8) & (7.11)

Crack width calculation

k1 coef. for bond properties of reinforcement = 0.8

Maximum crack spacing

sr,max= 3.4c + 0.425k1k2Φ /ρp,eff

Strain diagram wk = s .(εsm - εcm)

Difference in concrete and reinforcement

(εsm - εcm) may be calculated from:

Main reference – CIRIA C766

C766 is the most up to date

• The reaction of Portland cement causes an exothermic

When will concrete crack?

1b: Tensile strength

The flow of water through cracks can lead to autogenous

Only occurs when member is not subject to significant changes

The effect of cover

• Cracks tend to widen as the cover increases (not linearly)

1. Define the crack width, wmax

Define the crack width, wmax

Normal and expected

Crack Width Limits (Table 7.1N)

Crack width limits - wk1

For tightness classes 2 and 3 the compression zone should be

The provisions of Cl.7.3.1(111) assume self-healing will occur.

Calculation of crack width

Calculation of crack width

• Tensile stresses and therefore cracks only occur when

External restraint – notes

• The first crack influences only the distribution of the stress

• Suspended slabs between rigid walls

• Minimum reinforcement is provided to concrete structures

As,min = kc k fct,eff Act /σs

Minimum reinforcement with

Prestressing steel Pre-tensioned Bonded, post-tensioned

hc,ef = Min{2.5(h - d); (h - x)/3; h/2}

Remember that early-thermal effects could require control

Minimum area of reinforcement

Maximum crack spacing

sr,max= 3.4c + 0.425k1k2Φ /ρp,eff

Crack width calculation

The Crack width may be calculated from:

• C766 provides latest

• Extensive research has

• Defined as difference between the mean ambient

Coefficient of thermal expansion

• BS EN 1992-1-1 recommends that unless more reliable

Autogenous and drying