c) Estimation of the load when the first crack from the experimental flexural and

pure tensile crack strengths of concrete

1) Calculation on the theoretical cracking load

From force equilibrium of the cross-section under load assuming it is a partially
cracked section (Page 165, Kong and Evans, 3rd Edition)
a) From the applied loading, calculate the bending moment in the middle region of
the beam
P 3.8 P 1
Moment of mid−span M = ( )− ( )=0.7 P kNm
2 2 2 2
b) Erom the measured concrete strain and steel strain at mid-span, calculate the
neutral axis depth x, depth of stress block s and the effective depth d.

d 371 mm As 804.247 mm 2
7
d' 23 mm As' 314.1593 mm2
Ec 26.8 kN/mm
bf 650 mm Es(T16) 209.25 kN/mm
bw 125 mm Es(R10) 218.6 kN/mm
hf 80 mm h 415 mm

d
x= ε st +1 S=0.9X, for fcu<45N/mm
ε cc
Es 218.6
modular ratio α 1 ( for R 10 )= = =8.17
E c 26 . 8
E s 2 09.25
modular ratio α 2 ( for T 16 ) = = =7.81
E c 2 6 .8

When x lies betwwen 0 to 80 mm,

3 2
bf x x
I c= +b f x ( ) +α 1 A ' s ( x−d ')2+ α 2 A s ( d−x)2
12 2

When x is larger than hf = 80mm

 h
3
(¿¿ f ) hf 2
bw ( x−h f )3 x−hf 2
bf +( x− ) b f h f + + bw (x−hf )( )
12 2 12 2
I c =α 1 A ' s ( x−d ' )2 +α 2 A s (d−x )2+ ¿

P(kN) M(km)

5.1 3.57 10 18 132.5 8.67E+08 0.268 3.7665

10.9 7.63 23 41 133.3281 8.73E+08 0.6164 8.57925
14.7 10.29 28 78 98 6.85E+08 0.7504 16.3215
20.7 14.49 43 113 102.2628 6.99E+08 1.1524 23.6453
26.1 18.27 58 161 98.25571 6.86E+08 1.5544 33.6893
40.3 28.21 101 416 72.47776 6.48E+08 2.7068 87.048
52.3 36.61 145 683 64.96981 6.52E+08 3.886 142.918
60 42 171 836 63 6.54E+08 4.5828 174.933
70.1 49.07 214 1068 61.9298 6.55E+08 5.7352 223.479
80.9 56.63 255 1266 62.19921 6.55E+08 6.834 264.911
92.2 64.54 298 1448 63.32073 6.54E+08 7.9864 302.994
101 70.7 329 1592 63.5393 6.53E+08 8.8172 333.126
111.4 77.98 366 1762 63.80921 6.53E+08 9.8088 368.699
120.8 84.56 400 1918 64.02071 6.53E+08 10.72 401.342
132.2 92.54 440 2087 64.59834 6.52E+08 11.792 436.705
143.5 100.45 477 2261 64.63367 6.52E+08 12.7836 473.114
151 105.7 505 2385 64.82872 6.52E+08 13.534 499.061
160.9 112.63 539 2545 64.84079 6.52E+08 14.4452 532.541
170.7 119.49 577 2689 65.54409 6.52E+08 15.4636 562.673
182.5 127.75 618 2882 65.508 6.52E+08 16.5624 603.059
190.9 133.63 646 3022 65.33969 6.52E+08 17.3128 632.354
 c) From the stress strain curve of concrete, obtain the concrete stress from the
measured concrete strain. Also obtain the steel stress using the Young’s modulus
of steel from material testing.
d) Based on the equations given in the reference, obtain Mnet from the concrete
stress and Mnet from the steel stress. Take average of the two fc and fs are
obtained from strain of concrete and steel in experiment.
f f s Ic 1
M net , c = c I c , M net , s= , M net= ( M net , c + M net , s)
x α e ( d−x) 2
e) Substituting the applied bending moment and Mnet into the given equation obtain
fct.

3
b (h−x)
M net=M − f
3(d−x ) ct

3 ( M−M net )(d−x )

f ct = 3
b f (h−x)

f) Repeat (a) to (e) for all the loads from zero to a load above the experimental
cracking load (extend this range if necessary).
P(kN) M(kNm)

5.1 3.57 132.5 1.752823 1.752823 1.7528233 0.088723

10.9 7.63 133.3281 4.035498 4.035498 4.0354979 0.176439
14.7 10.29 98 5.247581 5.247581 5.2475808 0.199449
20.7 14.49 102.2628 7.881284 7.881284 7.8812838 0.267987
26.1 18.27 98.25571 10.85402 10.85402 10.854016 0.293769 crack happened
40.3 28.21 72.47776 24.21403 24.21403 24.214032 0.137006
52.3 36.61 64.96981 38.99948 38.99948 38.999485 -0.0787
60 42 63 47.57158 47.57158 47.571581 -0.1816
70.1 49.07 61.9298 60.67545 60.67545 60.675447 -0.37613
80.9 56.63 62.19921 71.95221 71.95221 71.952209 -0.4973
92.2 64.54 63.32073 82.43943 82.43943 82.439428 -0.58439
101 70.7 63.5393 90.6707 90.6707 90.670703 -0.65277
111.4 77.98 63.80921 100.3989 100.3989 100.3989 -0.73384
120.8 84.56 64.02071 109.328 109.328 109.32797 -0.81164
132.2 92.54 64.59834 119.0851 119.0851 119.08506 -0.87254
143.5 100.45 64.63367 129.022 129.022 129.02201 -0.93934
151 105.7 64.82872 136.1477 136.1477 136.14766 -1.00204
160.9 112.63 64.84079 145.2846 145.2846 145.28457 -1.07474
170.7 119.49 65.54409 153.7154 153.7154 153.71543 -1.13065
182.5 127.75 65.508 164.7363 164.7363 164.73627 -1.22162
190.9 133.63 65.33969 172.681 172.681 172.68099 -1.28866
g) Plot P versus fct. Then obtain the cracking load using the fct obtained from the
splitting test of the cylinder and fbt obtained from the testing of the 750mm plain
concrete beam. If experimental fct is larger than those from curve, take fct as
constant from experiment and repeat the calculation for P.

Load P vs fct
250

200

150
Load (kN)

100

50

0
-3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5
fct N/mm2

splitting test of the cylinder test

Diamet Length P kN (max) T( Mpa)
er (mm)
(mm)
Cylinder1 102 201 77.312 1.2003304
03
Cylinder2 99 200 74.612 1.1994816
78
Cylinder3 101 199 74.945 1.1869115
09
1.1955745
3

T = splitting tensile strength, MPa

P = maximum applied load indicated by the testing machine,
N
l = length, mm , and
d = diameter, mm

From splitting test of the cylinder test, fct = 1.20N/mm2

From the plain concrete beam testing, f bt = 5.167N/mm2
 As the experimental fct is larger than those from curve, take fct as
constant.
Recalculation of P is necessary.

From the following formula which can be found in many

textbook:
I g f cf
M cr =
yt

Where Mcr = crack moment

Ig = moment of inertia of gross-section about the centroidal
axis, neglecting reinforcement
fcf = modulus or rupture of concrete
yt = distance from the centroidal axis to extreme fiber in tension

Centroid = 132.56mm (from the top flange)

Ig = 1.418 x109mm4
fcf = 3.1004N/mm2
Hence,
( 1.418 x 10 9 ) (3.1004)
M cr = = 15.57kNm
( 415−132.56)

M cr =1.9 ( P2 )−0.5 ( P2 )
17.14 = 0.7P
P = 22.23kN

i) Comparison of the experimental value to the theoretical value

The first observed experimental value of the first cracking load is 26
kN, and the calculated experimental value is between 20.7kN to
26.1kN. The experimental cracking load is close to estimated result.
The possible reason is there are some errors listed below:
i. In the calculation, the self-weight of the beam is ignored
ii. The first crack may be occurred inside the beam so we cannot
observe and take the first crack loading. The first crack load may
be 22.23 kN.
iii. The neutral axis is assumed as fixed value but it varies in real
situation.
iv. Reinforced concrete is not isotropic material, which mean the
strength would be different in section.