Title: Serviceability Design of Reinforced Concrete Members with Emphasis in Marine Infrastructure

Author(s): Carlos E. Ospina

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 284

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1-24

Keywords: cracking; cracking control; deflections; deflection control; serviceability; serviceability limit state

DOI: 10.14359/51683804

Date: 3/1/2012

Abstract:
This paper reports design recommendations for flexural cracking and short-term deflection control in reinforced concrete (RC) beam-type elements. The proposed crack control procedures, which have evolved from existing design provisions in ACI 318-08 and AASHTO LRFD 2007, aim at controlling flexural cracking either directly -through the calculation of crack widths-, or indirectly -by prescribing a maximum spacing for the tension reinforcing bars-. The main feature of the proposed crack control procedures is that they are explicitly set up as a function of a limiting crack width value. This approach gives designers the ability to control specific serviceability requirements stipulated by the Owner/User of the structure and is very convenient in those instances where the limiting crack width is less than that tacitly linked to the ACI 318-08 crack control procedure. The proposed deflection control procedures are indirect in nature, aiming at controlling deflections by specifying maximum span/depth ratios based on the concept of limiting curvature and also as a function of both the deflection/span ratio and the maximum allowable crack width. Even though the serviceability design formulations are general in form, emphasis is given to RC beam-type elements in marine infrastructure.