Title: Nomenclature Phenomena of Failure in Reinforced Concrete Beams

Author(s): Ulf Bjuggren

Publication: Journal Proceedings

Volume: 64

Issue: 10

Appears on pages(s): 625-632

Keywords: beams (structural);bond (concrete to reinforcement);compressive strength; concretes;cracking (fracturing);failure;nomenclature;reinforced concrete;shear strength;tensile strength

DOI: 10.14359/7590

Date: 10/1/1967

Abstract:
The author makes a distinction between total failure and local failure of a reinforced concrete beam. Total failure always causes collapse of the beam, whereas local failure does not necessarily always give rise to collapse. Total fail-ure occurs through rupture of the tensile reinforcement, through crushing of the concrete in the compressive zone, or through end anchorage failure. Local failure consists in the formation of cracks of various types and in a decrease in bond. The number of areas of local failure and their types influence the behavior of the beam, and determine the value of the load at total failure as well as the type of total failure. In some cases, the load at a local failure of a given type may be higher than the load at the corresponding total failure. In such cases, the collapse is usually brittle. To make possible a meaningful discussion of the problems in question, it is necessary to use a unified nomenclature to designate the different types of failure. The present article advances a tentative proposal for this nomenclature.