Author(s)

Z J Yi, Q G Yang, Z W Li, C Zhou & K Peng

Abstract

Reinforced concrete structures are widely used in civil engineering. Being poor in resisting tension, an RC beam even cracks at a load level as low as 20%-30% of its ultimate carrying capacity; accompanied by the emergence and propagation of cracks, the structural performance turns worse. The study about RC structures shows that the failure process of RC structures actually means the emergence and propagation process of the cracks. From the principles of fracture mechanics, if the emergence and propagation of cracks was delayed and held back, the structural performance would be improved. Based on the principles of fracture mechanics and the study about RC structures, the authors put forward a new reinforced RC composite structure that can delay and hold back the cracks in the structure. The concept of the new structures in the article will enrich the RC theory and provide new method to realize longer span. 1 Introduction The RC structures make up a main structure type in civil engineering. Even after the great development in theory and practice, the RC structures still have some inherent defects-poor anti-cracks performance and heavy self-weight [1]. How to improve the performance of RC structures has been a crucial problem for decades. The article studies the relationship between the RC structure failure and the cracks propagation in it based on fracture mechanics, and offers a new reinforced RC composite structure mainly aimed at delaying and holding back cracks,

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