Width and spacing of tensile cracks in axially reinforced concrete cylinders

In a study of the spacing and width of tensile cracks, axially reinforced cylinders were tested by applying tensile forces to the r einforcement and observing the deformations of the concrete and the spacing and the ",idth of cracks. The test data and theoretical equations were in good agreement with res pect to the effects of the principal fact.ors controlling the spacing and the width of cracks. The spacing and t.he width of cracks were found to depend chiefly on the ratio of the diameter to the percentage of reinforcement and the nature of the deformations on the bars. It is concluded that the use of a type of reinforcement bar that will afford more reliable anchorage would result in better control of cracking of reinforced concrete and economy in the u se of r einforcement steel.