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Title: Fracture Mechanics and the Concrete Codes

Author(s): Arne Hillerborg

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 118

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 157-170

Keywords: beams (supports); building codes; concretes; flexural strength; fracture properties; reinforced concrete; reinforcing steels; shear properties; span-depth ratio; specifications; structural design; tensile strength; Structural Research

DOI: 10.14359/2947

Date: 1/1/1990

Abstract:
A fracture mechanics approach is presented. In this approach, the complete material behavior during tensile fracture is described in a way suitable for the analysis of failure of structures. Two examples are given of practical applications, in which the results can be compared with code specifications. The first is the cracking strength of a beam. It is demonstrated that the formal flexural stress that causes cracking decreases as the depth of the beam increases. The second example is the shear strength of a beam without shear reinforcement. The theoretical results show a good agreement with test results. There seem to be reasons to revise the rules in the ACI Building Code regarding the influence of beam depth, of span-to-depth ratio, and of the amount of longitudinal reinforcement on the shear strength. The tensile toughness of concrete, expressed as fracture energy, proves to be an important material property, which ought to be taken into account.