Analytical Method for Bending-Induced Crack Location Prediction on Reinforced Concrete Beam

Reinforced concrete (RC) structural condition assessment is of great importance for civil infrastructure maintenance. Unexpected cracks occurred on RC components could deteriorate structural load-bearing capacity and even cause structural collapse. Condition evaluation of civil infrastructure after natural disasters have always faced difficulties for engineers due to a lack of structural data. This paper suggests an analytical method for predicting the locations of bending-induced cracks on RC beams, which only requires geometric features of curvature parameters to predict crack locations. First, through the use of bond-slip theory and presumptive curvature boundary conditions, crucial equations that determine the minimum crack spacing are developed. The crucial equations describe the effect of concrete-steel bond strength on crack spacing and crack curvature. Second, a method for predicting the locations of bending-induced cracks is proposed using the crucial equations that were derived. A RC beam specimen subjected to four-point bending were examined to evaluate the validity and accuracy of the suggested approach. The results of the experiments demonstrate the significant potential of the analytical approach used for structural inspection and safety assessment in the field.