Crack spacing of reinforced concrete

Concrete is a brittle material and can only withstand small amount of tensile strain due to stress before cracking.

= coefficient to account for strain gradient According to the Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT), the spacing of inclined cracks in reinforced concrete will depend upon the crack control characteristics of both the longitudinal and the transverse reinforcement.

is the average crack spacing that would result if the member was subjected to a transverse tension.

The above CEB expression was intended to calculate crack spacings on the surface of the member.

Thus, for the uniform tensile straining the above CEB expression is modified to: The above equations are suggested for better approximation of crack spacings in the shear area of the beam.