Cracking behavior of one-way slabs reinforced with welded wire fabric

Abstract

Equations for predicting the spacing and width of cracks in one-way slabs reinforced with welded wire fabric (WWF) are presented. Fourteen slabs with smooth WWF and six with deformed WWF were tested under pure flexure to verify the predictions. Two of the slabs with deformed WWF were subject to repeated loading. The major parameters of the study were the spacing and diameter of transverse wires, and concrete cover to the main reinforcement. Results showed that crack spacings in slabs depend mainly on the spacing of welded transverse wires. Crack widths calculated on the basis of crack spacings, stress in main reinfocement, and the bond properties of reinforcement are found to be in good agreement with experimental results. For better crack control, the spacing of welded transverse wires should be limited to certain critical values.