Title:
Understanding the Cause of Cracking
in Concrete: A Diagnostic Aid
Author(s):
N. G. Shrive and M. El-Rahman
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
7
Issue:
5
Appears on pages(s):
39-44
Keywords:
compressive strength; concretes; crack
(fracturing ); plain concrete; tensi le stress; voids.
Ing
DOI:
Date:
5/1/1985
Abstract:
An understanding of the cause of cracking in concrete is necessary if correct diagnosis is to be made of the macroscopic conditions which induce the distress. Plain concrete is shown to behave like other so-called brittle materials under different states of stress. It is shown that the development of tensile stresses around voids initiates cracking. This simple theorem is confirmed by comparing experimental results with predicted behavior in terms of cracking for a variety of stress states, including compression.