Strength of Reinforced Concrete under the Action of Combined Stresses, and the Representation of the Criterion of Failure by a Space Model

Abstract

IN concrete, as in most other brittle materials, two distinct types of failure can be distinguished. A crushing failure is always accompanied by the formation of debris, and is generally caused by diagonal shear due to compression. A cleavage failure is easily recognized by the clean appearance of the fracture; if the concrete is suitably reinforced, failure in direct tension due to bending can be prevented, and a cleavage fracture is therefore normally the result of diagonal tension due to shear.