Effect of cold joint on the flexural strength of RC beam

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study is to determine the loss in the flexural strength capacity of a reinforced concrete (RC) beam due to the presence of cold joint under two conditions: (i) different mix of concrete and (ii) different age of the cold joint. Indian Standard method of testing the flexural strength of an RC beam was adopted. In this study 40 beams were casted out of which 8 were of controlled beams and the remaining 32 were of cold jointed specimens. Cold jointed specimens were casted up to half by inclining approximately at 45° to replicate the common practice on site and the remaining portions were casted at different intervals of time. From the experimental study, the amount of loss in the flexural strength capacity of the RC beams due to the presence of cold joint for different age was observed. A deduction chart to account for the loss due to the presence of cold joint is proposed.