The influence of concrete shrinkage on durability of reinforced structural members

Abstract

The aim of the paper was to present the author's novel approach to the problem of the influence of concrete shrinkage on the static-strength performance of reinforced structures. The problem of concrete shrinkage has been known in concrete technology for years, mainly in the theoretical and experimental aspects. However, there are few works in which the effect of concrete shrinkage in real reinforced structural members and structures is shown. In the present article the author performs an analysis of these effects on a macro-scale, useful in the assessment of the influence of concrete shrinkage on limit states of bearing capacity and serviceability of reinforced concrete structures. An important distinction is made between shrinkage stresses imposed in RC members by external and internal (reinforcement induced) constraints and residual shrinkage stresses inside members (massive especially) resulting from non-stationary and non-linear moisture fields. The article concludes with a way of calculating the necessary, near-surface anti-shrinkage reinforcement in such members.