Crack control of reinforced concrete members using ferrocement tension zone layer

This paper presents a study on crack control of reinforced concrete slabs and beams using ferrocement tension zone layer. The results of tests on fourteen simply supported slabs and beams are presented. The investigated parameters were type and spacing of shear connectors and percentage of reinforcement in the ferrocement layer. The results indicate that the use offerrocement tension zone layer has increased the first crack load by 17% -83% in slabs and by 50% -93% in beams. Average crack width reduced by 70% -74% in slabs and by 26% -77% in beams when compared with their control specimens. Average number of cracks almost doubled in slabs and increased by 10% in beams, whereas average spacing of cracks reduced by 25% in slabs and by 11% in beams. Increasing the spacing of shear connectors from 300mm to 600mm in beams or from 350mm to 700mm in slabs seemed to have negligible effect on the over all behaviuor of the tested specimens. Composite action was achieved with all methods of connection up to failure.