The prediction of crack widths in reinforced concrete beams

Synopsis Two parameters, concrete cover and average effective area of concrete surrounding each bar, were varied in a factorial experiment on rectangular reinforced concrete beams. Crack widths were measured from full-scale photographic plates taken of the tensile region for the series of nine beams loaded to a selected steel stress. Comparisons are made between the observed mean and maximum crack widths, predicted values from previously suggested formulae, and a new formula proposed by the authors which incorporates the two parameters varied together with the average concrete strain at the level considered.