Small-Scale Models for Studying Effects of Creep and Shrinkage on Long-Term Deflection of Reinforced Concrete Slabs.
Abstract:
The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of using small-scale models to study the effects of creep and shrinkage on long-term deflections of reinforced concrete slabs, and, if feasible, to determine a the smallest length scale N that can be reliably used to study these effects, b to what degree creep and shrinkage may affect model slabs loaded with either dead loads, dead loads plus estimated actual live loads, or dead load plus design live loads, and c if creep and shrinkage measurements obtained from model slabs can be correlated with those of standard laboratory specimens such as 6- by 12-in. cylindrical specimens. Strain and deflection readings were obtained on six simply supported square slabs for periods up to and slightly exceeding 1000 days. Similar readings were also obtained on corresponding slabs and 6- by 12-in. cylindrical specimens positioned whereby the effects of shrinkage, creep, and autogenous volume change could be either investigated or correlated with the strain and deflection measurements from the test specimens. Author