Performance of RC slabs under the combined effect of applied loads and restrained shrinkage

Cracking control in reinforced concrete (RC) is a key factor to ensure proper service life behaviour. However, current design recommendations are unable to provide straightforward methodologies for crack width prediction in RC structures subjected to the combined effects of applied loads and restrained deformations, which is a common situation in civil engineering. This is motivated by the lack of knowledge about the complex interactions that take place between self-imposed deformations, viscoelasticity and the effects of applied loads in the process of crack development. A major challenge in studying these combined effects is the validation of numerical simulations with real scale experimental data. For that purpose, an experimental system for testing real scale RC slabs subjected to the above-mentioned conditions was developed. This system is capable of inducing a prescribed axial restraint to the slab, in correspondence to a high restraint degree that induces cracking in view of expectable shrinkage. At the same time, the setup enables the application of vertical loads. The experimental results obtained in this work allowed for the validation of the test setup, as well as the suitability of the slab geometry and reinforcement.