International Concrete Abstracts Portal

This paper reviews the development of deflection calculation procedures and comments on the risk of computational errors. It then discusses practical considerations affecting deflection and their limitations. It assesses the effect of nine parameters on the variability of deflection by reference to two example beams. Finally, the paper recommends further laboratory and analytical research and makes suggestions on how design engineers may improve the accuracy of their deflection computations.

In virtually all areas of structural engineering, including the increasingly well-known area of structural reliability assessment, it is commonly assumed that failures will occur suddenly and instantaneously in given failure modes. This assumption affords a valuable simplification of complex real-world problems. However, many failure modes do not obey this assumption, including most serviceability failure modes, strength failure modes of ductile component and/or redundant systems, and failure modes based on cumulative damage. For these cases, a formulation is required with which the transition from complete survival to complete failure can be modeled as being gradual and continuous, and comprised of partial failure levels. This paper proposes such a formulation along with corresponding methodologies for structural reliability assessment and reliability-based design. Various statistical and entropy-based measures which can be used to help characterize the results of the structural reliability assessment are also suggested. Application of the proposed structural reliability assessment and reliability-based design methodologies is illustrated with an example problem involving deflection failure of a reinforced concrete beam. Some potential applications of the proposed methodologies include probabilistic design and code calibration for failure modes modeled as having gradual and continuous failure transitions.

SP-133 Design for serviceability and safety is central to the work of structural engineers, code-writing bodies and the users. The current era of high strength materials, exotic additives and limit states of design has necessitated better control of constructed facilities in their short and long-term behavior at service load and at ultimate load. This Special Publication concentrates on topics that give the design engineer and contractor an insight into how to avoid practices that could affect the integrity or long-term performance of structural elements and systems. The text is outgrowth of a national symposium of the American Concrete Institute co-sponsored by ACI Committees 348 and 435, and covers topics ranging from crack-control in reinforced and prestressed concrete, safety provisions in design codes and practical deflection computations to limit state design principles and seismic performance of frame structures. Several papers that could not be presented due to time limitations are included. The papers dealing with serviceability, highlight requirements of the ACI Codes and Reports in addition to relevant state of the art developments. The paper covering safety deal with issues ranging from philosophical discussions of treatment of safety in codes to project case studies. Overlap is expected since serviceability and safety are indivisible. All the papers presented in this publication were reviewed by recognized xperts in accordance with the ACI review procedures. It is hoped that designer, constructors and codifying bodies will be able to draw on the material presented in improving the safety and long-term cracking and deflection behavior of concrete constructed facilities.

This paper presents the state of the art in evaluating flexural crack development and control of macrocracking. It is based on extensive research over the past five decades, in the United States and overseas, in the area of macrocracking in reinforced and prestressed concrete beams and in two-way action slabs and plates With the advent of limit states theories that generally lead to economic proportioning of members, control of cracking has become essential to maintain the integrity and esthetics of concrete structures. The trend is stronger than ever in better utilization of current concrete strengths, use of higher strength concretes that include super-strength concretes of 20,000 psi (138 MPa) compressive strength and higher, and increased application of prestressed concrete concepts. All these trends require closer control of serviceability requirements in cracking and deflection. Design expressions are given for the control of cracking in reinforced concrete beams and thick one-way slabs; prestressed, pretensioned, and post-tensioned flanged beams; and reinforced concrete two-way action structural floor slabs and plates. In addition, recommendations are given for the maximum tolerable flexural crack widths in concrete elements.

The American Concrete Institute, Standard 318, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete have permitted the design of reinforced concrete structures in accordance with limit state principles using load and resistance factors since 1963. A probabilistic assessment of these factors and implied safety levels is made, along with consideration of alternate factor values and formats. A discussion of issues related to construction safety and safety of existing structures is included.