Industry CPD Supplied and sponsored by Buildsoft

Supplied and
sponsored by Industry CPD
Calculating cracking
deformation in concrete
This CPD module, sponsored by Continuing professional development (CPD) ensures you
Buildsoft, explores the benefits remain competent in your profession. Chartered, Associate and
of advanced structural analysis Technician members of the Institution must complete a specified
software when calculating amount each year. All CPD undertaken must be reported to the
cracked deflections of reinforced Institution annually. Reading and reflecting on this article by
concrete beams and floor slabs. correctly answering the questions at the end is advocated to be:

1 hour of verifiable CPD

Introduction how to deal with those complex conditions in

Thanks to a better understanding of material practice, according to EN 1992-1-1.
properties and advanced analysis tools, structural
engineers are able to achieve more lightweight Calculating the cracked deflection
designs. As a result, comfort requirements are The elastic deflection of reinforced concrete
becoming increasingly important. For concrete beams or floor slabs will only match the actual
beams and floors, maximum deflection often deflection if the beam or floor slab’s cracking
DEFINITIONS becomes the decisive criterion. But this raises moment is not exceeded. Because of the low
The initial shape of a concrete beam or floor new questions, such as: ‘How should deflections tensile strength of concrete, this situation will
slab is the reference line (reference plane) be calculated?’ and ‘What are the limit values for usually apply in practice. As soon as stresses
of the loadbearing element in the unloaded maximum deflections?’ exceed the concrete’s tensile strength, cracks
condition. Calculating deflections of reinforced concrete will appear, and the cross-section’s stiffness
The deflection is the displacement of the beams and floor slabs is a complex matter will significantly decrease, resulting in more
reference line (reference plane) under the because the Young’s modulus of concrete evolves considerable deflections.
influence of the applied loads compared with over time. In addition, when cracking is involved, To calculate the deflection of reinforced
the initial shape. the moment of inertia of a cross-section is far concrete beams or floor slabs, we need to
The instantaneous deflection due to applied from constant along the length of a beam or floor consider concrete cracking. The degree to which
loads is the part of the deflection that occurs slab. Advanced structural analysis software is, the concrete is cracked will depend not only on
almost instantaneously after applying the therefore, indispensable. This article discusses its tensile strength, but also on the loads and the
loads. actual amount of reinforcement.
The time-dependent deflection due to The calculation method discussed hereafter
applied loads is the part of the deflection that (available in the Diamonds structural analysis
occurs due to concrete creep after applying software) is a logical extension of design rules
loads that are assumed to be constant through
for structural elements (such as beams) bearing
time.
loads in one direction only. After discussing its
The additional deflection from the point in principles for the case of unidirectional loadbearing
time ti is the part of the deflection that occurs
elements, we’ll examine how we can extend the
after ti. It consists of both:
scope of this calculation method to structural
| the remaining part of the time-dependent elements bearing loads in two directions.
deflection under the loads that have already
For elements subject to bending, Equation 1
been applied at the point in time ti
applies for the calculation of the vertical deflection δ:
| the instantaneous and time-dependent FIGURE 1: Fonteynbrug Residence project in which
deflection under the loads applied after the
point in time ti.
Buildsoft programs were used to calculate deflection
over time (architect: Stéphane Beel Architects; engineer: d2 1 M
Structural engineering office Concreet; contractor: Algemene (1)
Bouwonderneming Hooyberghs) dx 2 r EI

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FIGURE 2: Distribution
of cracked zones in
continuous beam

FIGURE 3: Example beam FIGURE 4: Cracked

deflection of example beam
calculated with Diamonds

For reinforced concrete elements, the curvature fictitious cross-section, consisting only of structural elements bearing loads in two directions.
value 1/r depends on whether or not the cross- the compressed concrete cross-section For each node of a finite element mesh, the

reinforcement bars (α = Es ∕ Ec).

section is cracked. A cross-section is cracked augmented by α times the section of the moment M and the cracking moment Mr can be
only when the bending moment exceeds the determined for both reinforcement directions.
cracking moment Mr. The cracking moment Mr is Equations 5 and 6 then provide a way to

using the creep factor φ (E = Ec ∕ 1 + φ).

determined by In Equations 3 and 4 creep is accounted for estimate the stiffness EI for both directions.
See the Worked example for a demonstration
Mr f ctm,fl W (2) Figure 2 shows the distribution of cracked of this calculation.
zones in a continuous beam. In the white zones,
in which: the bending moment remains smaller than the Calculating additional deflection
fctm,fl the mean flexural tensile strength of concrete cracking moment Mr. The beam is not cracked in Determining the additional deflection requires
W is the moment of resistance of the uncracked those zones. In the light blue zones, the bending the time at which the loads act. The deflection
fictitious cross-section that consists of the moment exceeds the cracking moment Mr a as a function of time can be calculated using

by α (= Es ∕ Ec) times the section of the

entire concrete cross-section augmented little. While in the darker blue zones, the cracking superposition:
moment Mr is exceeded by a lot more. The light | For each load group:
reinforcement bars. blue zones will be less cracked than the darker a) calculate the instant cracked deflection using
blue zones. So, we need an expression that Equations 1 to 5
For a cross-section in uncracked zones of the takes the amount of cracking into account: the b) calculate the delayed deflection due to
beam (for which M < Mr), the local curvature 1/r1 is average local curvature 1/r for a cross-section in a creep.
calculated from: cracked zone (for which M > Mr ) is calculated as | At each step in time, take the sum of:
the weighted average between the uncracked and a) the instant cracked deflection of the loads
1 M (3) cracked curvature: that are present

r1 EI1 1 1 1 b) the appropriate part of the delayed deflection
1 x x (5) due to creep.
in which: r r1 r2
E is the Young’s modulus of concrete But this method comes with a few difficulties:
I1 is the moment of inertia of the uncracked in which: | Cracking is non-elastic material behaviour. It

x = 1−0.5 (Mr ∕ M)2.

fictitious cross-section. x is the distribution coefficient equal to does not allow superposition.
| The inertia of cracked cross-sections must be
For a fully cracked section (for which M > Mr), calculated instantaneously.
the local curvature 1/r2 is calculated from: Rather than calculating the deflection through | The creep factor for a given load depends on
a double integration of the local curvatures 1/r, the age of the concrete at the time the load is
1 M (4) we can divide the beam into several elements applied: the older the concrete, the lower the

r2 EI 2 with variable stiffness EI, replacing I with I1 for the creep factor for that load.
uncracked zones and deriving I for cracked zones
in which: from Equation 5 in which curvatures 1/r are The following approach can be suggested (as
E is the Young’s modulus of concrete replaced by M/EI. implemented in Diamonds):
I2 is the moment of inertia of the cracked We can easily extend the latter method to | The superposition principle is applied by

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FIGURE 5: Diamonds geometry model of one floor slab from building in Figure 1, showing loads due to partition walls

WORKED EXAMPLE:
CALCULATING THE CRACKED
DEFLECTION
We use the beam below to illustrate the
method for cracked deformation.

Data
C25/30, S500, As,top = 226mm2,
As,bottom = 942mm2, d1 = d2 = 40mm, φ = 2
25kN/m dead load and 10kN/m live load
resulting in MULS FC = 102.9kNm,
MSLS RC = 74kNm

Calculation
Determine the cracking moment Mr FIGURE 6: Additional deflection following installation of partition walls [mm]

Mr f ctm.fl W 19.51kNm

where:
f ctm.fl  3.08MPa
W  6337cm3

The distribution coefficient x equals

2
Mr
x 1 0.5 0.965
M SLS RC

The deflection of an uncracked section δ1

equals
FIGURE 7: Total cracked deflection at time = infinity [mm]
5 8M SLS RC L2
1 3.21mm
384 Ec I1
where:
Ec  31476MPa
I1  1222 484cm 4

The deflection of a fully cracked section δ2

equals

5 8M SLS RC L2
2 11.25mm
384 Ec I 2
where:
Ec  10 492MPa
FIGURE 8: Elastic deformation [mm]
I 2  104513cm 4

The maximum cracked deflection of the

beam equals

1 x 1 x 2

1 0.965 3.21mm 0.965 11.25mm

10.97 mm

Figure 4 shows the example beam

calculated with Diamonds. Both give
similar results.

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Table 1: Maximum deflection as | T

 he creep factor is constant for each concrete elastic deflection (Figure 8), we notice a factor
a function of time in point A grade and for all load cases. 2 difference, which is not uncommon. The
cracked deflection can be up to a factor of 5
Time [days] Deflection [mm] Calculating additional deflection: higher than the elastic deformation.
practical example in Diamonds
t = −28 0.0 The above approach is illustrated through a Complying with design codes
t = +28 −2.5 practical example. Figure 5 shows the geometry Now that we have calculated the maximum
of a floor slab. It is assumed that the self-weight deflection, to which value should it be limited?
t = −60 −4.4 acts at 28 days, the dead loads at 60 days, the There is a distinction between the total
partition walls at 90 days (their distribution is deflection and the additional deflection.
t = +60 −5.2
shown in Fig. 5) and the live loads at 120 days. | T
 he total deflection is generally limited to
t = −90 −6.2 We would like to calculate the additional the span length divided by 250 (or 1/125
deflection following the installation of the partition for a cantilever) in an SLS QP (self-weight,
t = +90 −6.2 walls. Practically, this means we must calculate permanent loads and approx. 30% of
t = −120 −6.6 the difference between the total deformation in the the service loads). By applying a counter-
characteristic load combination (at time infinity) deformation, the deflection can be fully or
t = +120 RC −7.3 and the deflection present just before the partition partially compensated.
walls are placed. Because the additional deflection | T
 he additional deflection is generally
t = inf. RC −10.5 (see Fig. 7)
is more damage-related than comfort-related, limited to the span length divided by 500
we use the characteristic load combination. (or 1/250 for a cantilever) where damage to
specifying which load combination should be Imposing this restriction for quasi-permanent load partition walls is to be avoided.
considered decisive for concrete cracking. combinations would be insufficient.
| T
 his can be done separately for each load Table 1 shows the increase in deflection Conclusion
group (the amount of cracking is deemed over time in point A, while Figure 6 shows the The non-linear material behaviour of concrete
to be constant through time for each calculated values for the additional deflection. requires the calculation of deflection to
load group). Usually, a characteristic load In addition to calculating the additional consider cracking and creep. Advanced
combination is recommended for live loads, deflection, this method can also be used to structural analysis software is vital to estimate
and a quasi-permanent load combination for calculate the total deflection (Figure 7). If we the total and additional deflections for 2D and
dead loads. compare the total cracked deflection with the 3D models.

Questions To claim your CPD certificate, complete the module online

by 31 July 2022 at: www.istructe.org/industry-cpd

1) What knowledge is essential to estimate 3) Calculate the elastic deformation of the 5) If the creep factor φ = 2, how much
the cracked deflection? (Select all possible example beam in Fig. 3. Use the formula larger is the deflection after creep
answers) where Ec = 31 476MPa and compared with the instantaneous
2
5 8M
SLS RCL
384 EI
¨ Position of the stirrups the moment of inertia I based on a pure uncracked (elastic) deflection? The elastic
c

¨ Bending moment diagram concrete cross-section. Which statement deflection ratio with creep/without creep
¨ Concrete grade is true about this elastic deformation? is:
¨ Steel grade ¨ The elastic deformation equals the uncracked ¨ 0.5
deformation δ1 ¨ 1 (equal)
2) Which statement is true about the ¨ The elastic deformation is larger than the ¨ 2
cracking moment Mr? uncracked deformation δ1 ¨ 3
¨ When the bending moment in a beam ¨ The elastic deformation is smaller than the
exceeds the cracking moment Mr, the beam is uncracked deformation δ1 6) Following on from the previous
fully cracked ¨ It is impossible to predict the elastic behaviour question, if the section (and therefore
¨ The cracking moment Mr is the bending of the beam deflection) were cracked, would the ratio
moment in a concrete beam or floor slab just with creep/without creep, compared with
before the tensile zone starts to crack 4) What is the strictest requirement that the non-cracked elastic ratio, be:
¨ When the bending moment in a beam the additional deflection in Fig. 6 satisfies? ¨ Smaller
exceeds the cracking moment Mr, the Use a span of 3m. ¨ Equal
curvature 1/r remains constant ¨ L/250 ¨ Larger
¨ When the bending moment in a beam ¨ L/300
exceeds the cracking moment Mr in one spot, ¨ L/500 Supplied and sponsored by
the entire element is cracked ¨ L/1000

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