CONTRIBUTION TO THE EVALUATION OF THEOPENING OF CRACKS IN CONCRETE ELEMENTS

Abstract

At the serviceability limit state (SLS), the reinforced concreteelements are checked to the crack width and deformation limits.In this study, we use the shape of the curve-slip adhesion betweensteel and concrete proposed by the European Committee forConcrete to estimate the crack openings. Relations, covering thedifferent phases of this law, are established and methods ofcomputation are proposed. According to the characteristics ofboth materials (steel and concrete), crack widths are calculatedduring and after the propagation phase.