Title:
Support Settlement and Slabs Reinforced with Low-Ductility Steel
Author(s):
Helen Goldsworthy, Usman Siddique, and Rebecca Gravina
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
106
Issue:
6
Appears on pages(s):
840-847
Keywords:
low-ductility mesh steel; reinforced concrete; relative support settlement
DOI:
10.14359/51663185
Date:
11/1/2009
Abstract:
The results of an investigation into the effects of relative support settlement on continuous one-way reinforced concrete slabs constructed with low-ductility mesh steel are presented herein. An experimental program has been carried out in which two full-scale continuous slabs have been subjected to an imposed relative support settlement and then loaded to failure. The behavior has been carefully monitored over the full range of loading. Photogrammetry techniques have been used to measure the displacements; this has been supplemented by the use of displacement transducers and strain gauges at key locations. It was observed that, despite the imposed settlement, the test slabs managed to surpass their ultimate design loads. The failure in each slab was brittle due to fracture of the tensile steel at the sections adjacent to the central support. A theoretical model has been developed and the results from this are compared with the experimental data.