Keeping steel bars anchored in cracked girders.

PDFTech ReportRSN 11-02Reinforced concrete bridgesBeamsBars (Building materials)TestingCrackingBond strength (Materials)LoadsOregonOregon. Dept. of Transportation. Research SectionOregon. Dept. of Transportation. Research SectionUS Transportation CollectionResearchers at Oregon State University fabricated large-size reinforced concrete beams each with an intentional crack made by positioning a plastic sheet in the formwork when the beams were cast. By maintaining control over crack location, crack angle, and steel bar cutoff location, the researchers were able to load the beams to failure to determine the effect of crack characteristics on bond strength and beam capacity. Instrumentation monitored deformation of the beams, elongation of the steel reinforcement, and whether the cutoff bars slipped in the concrete