"Managing Deflection, Shortening and Cracking Arising from Restrained Contraction"

Abstract

As concrete shrinks and steel does not, the resistance of reinforcement to shrinkage causes deflection of slabs and beams and shortening of columns and walls. In this paper, the current methods of calculating shrinkage curvature and deflection in reinforced sections are examined and compared, concluding that the American Concrete I method seems realistic but the UK and European methods overestimate the deflection significantly. Shrinkage is also significant in concrete roads and industrial ground floors, but the paper is limited to typical structural elements in buildings.