Estimation of Flexural Crack Width in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using International Codes: A Parametric Analysis

Crack width is an important parameter for concrete design, particularly from serviceability and durability considerations. This study focused on a critical comparison of the 12 formulations for estimation of maximum flexural crack, available in 13 international codes from 10 countries/geographic reg...

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Main Authors: Saha Dauji, Kapilesh Bhargava, Deeksha Gupta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Advances in Civil Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/adce/9961763
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author Saha Dauji
Kapilesh Bhargava
Deeksha Gupta
author_facet Saha Dauji
Kapilesh Bhargava
Deeksha Gupta
author_sort Saha Dauji
collection DOAJ
description Crack width is an important parameter for concrete design, particularly from serviceability and durability considerations. This study focused on a critical comparison of the 12 formulations for estimation of maximum flexural crack, available in 13 international codes from 10 countries/geographic regions. Four common factors are: tensile stress in reinforcement, clear cover, spacing, and diameter of reinforcement; whereas the other factors were employed selectively. Using an extensive synthetic database representing a 10-dimensional hyperspace of possible beam sections, crack widths were estimated and were subsequently analyzed to evaluate the contributions from the major factors. Up to M50, higher grade of concrete caused higher stresses and resulted in larger crack widths; this reduced thereafter, possibly due to the enhanced tensile capacity of concrete. The descriptive crack width statistics (CWS) increased monotonically for all the international codes with the increase in: cover to reinforcement; stress in the tensile steel; spacing between reinforcing bars—indicating these as very important factors. For higher diameter of reinforcement up to 28 mm diameter, CWS were higher; possibly due to the higher stress contribution from larger diameter bars. Beyond 28 mm and up to 40 mm, the higher area of reinforcement might have resulted in lower steel stress, thereby indirectly lowering CWS. The insights obtained from this critical comparative study would be invaluable in design and control of crack width flexural members through reinforcement detailing and other methods.
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spelling doaj-art-b580a9cf9f3a4df7b40eb001abadd4bf2025-08-20T03:13:21ZengWileyAdvances in Civil Engineering1687-80942025-01-01202510.1155/adce/9961763Estimation of Flexural Crack Width in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using International Codes: A Parametric AnalysisSaha Dauji0Kapilesh Bhargava1Deeksha Gupta2Civil Design DivisionDepartment of Engineering SciencesHuman Resource Development DivisionCrack width is an important parameter for concrete design, particularly from serviceability and durability considerations. This study focused on a critical comparison of the 12 formulations for estimation of maximum flexural crack, available in 13 international codes from 10 countries/geographic regions. Four common factors are: tensile stress in reinforcement, clear cover, spacing, and diameter of reinforcement; whereas the other factors were employed selectively. Using an extensive synthetic database representing a 10-dimensional hyperspace of possible beam sections, crack widths were estimated and were subsequently analyzed to evaluate the contributions from the major factors. Up to M50, higher grade of concrete caused higher stresses and resulted in larger crack widths; this reduced thereafter, possibly due to the enhanced tensile capacity of concrete. The descriptive crack width statistics (CWS) increased monotonically for all the international codes with the increase in: cover to reinforcement; stress in the tensile steel; spacing between reinforcing bars—indicating these as very important factors. For higher diameter of reinforcement up to 28 mm diameter, CWS were higher; possibly due to the higher stress contribution from larger diameter bars. Beyond 28 mm and up to 40 mm, the higher area of reinforcement might have resulted in lower steel stress, thereby indirectly lowering CWS. The insights obtained from this critical comparative study would be invaluable in design and control of crack width flexural members through reinforcement detailing and other methods.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/adce/9961763
spellingShingle Saha Dauji
Kapilesh Bhargava
Deeksha Gupta
Estimation of Flexural Crack Width in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using International Codes: A Parametric Analysis
Advances in Civil Engineering
title Estimation of Flexural Crack Width in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using International Codes: A Parametric Analysis
title_full Estimation of Flexural Crack Width in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using International Codes: A Parametric Analysis
title_fullStr Estimation of Flexural Crack Width in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using International Codes: A Parametric Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of Flexural Crack Width in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using International Codes: A Parametric Analysis
title_short Estimation of Flexural Crack Width in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using International Codes: A Parametric Analysis
title_sort estimation of flexural crack width in reinforced concrete beams using international codes a parametric analysis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/adce/9961763
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AT kapileshbhargava estimationofflexuralcrackwidthinreinforcedconcretebeamsusinginternationalcodesaparametricanalysis
AT deekshagupta estimationofflexuralcrackwidthinreinforcedconcretebeamsusinginternationalcodesaparametricanalysis