12/30/2017 How To Reinforce Concrete to Control Cracking

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How To Reinforce Concrete to Control Cracking

Steel reinforcing bars and welded wire reinforcement provide crack width control in nonstructural slabs-on-
ground.
KIM BASHAM, PHD PE FACI — FEBRUARY 25, 2013

VIEW GALLERY 
Above and below: Properly placed and supported reinforcement will result in properly located reinforcement in the slab. Consult manufacturers' literature for
maximum chair and other support spacing and use a 12-inch minimum reinforcement spacing so workers can avoid walking on the reinforcement.

Most slabs-on-ground are unreinforced or nominally reinforced for crack-width control. When positioned in the upper or top
portion of the slab thickness, steel reinforcement limits the widths of random cracks that may occur because of concrete
shrinkage and temperature restraints, subbase settlement, applied loads or other issues. This type of reinforcement is commonly
called shrinkage and temperature reinforcement.

Shrinkage and temperature reinforcement is di erent than structural reinforcement. Structural reinforcement is typically placed
in the bottom portion of the slab thickness for the purpose of increasing the slab's load capacity. Most structural slabs-on-ground
have both top and bottom layers of reinforcement for controlling crack-widths and increasing load capacities. Because of
constructability issues and costs associated with two layers of reinforcement, structural slabs-on-ground are not as common as
nonstructural slabs.

While there are several reinforcing options for nonstructural slabs-on-ground, this article focuses on steel reinforcing bars and
welded wire reinforcement for crack width control.

The basics
Steel reinforcing bars and welded wire reinforcement will not prevent cracking. Reinforcement is basically dormant until the
concrete cracks. A er cracking, it becomes active and controls crack widths by restricting crack growth.

If slabs are placed on high quality subbases with uniform support and consist of low shrinkage concrete with joints properly
installed with spacings of 15 feet or less, reinforcement is generally unnecessary. Most likely, there will be few random or out-of-
joint cracking. If random cracks do occur, they should remain fairly tight because of the limited joint spacing and low concrete
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12/30/2017 How To Reinforce Concrete to Control Cracking

shrinkage thereby limiting future serviceability or maintenance issues.

When slabs are placed on problematic subbases with risks of non-uniform support or consist of moderate to high shrinkage
concrete or joint spacings exceed 15 feet, then reinforcement is necessary to limit widths of cracks should they occur. As crack
widths grow and approach about 35 mils (0.035 inches), the e iciency of load transfer through aggregate interlock diminishes
and di erential vertical movements across cracks or slab "rocking" can occur. When this happens, crack edges become exposed
and edge spalling will likely occur, especially if the slab is exposed to wheeled tra ic and especially hard-wheeled li trucks. Once
spalling starts, crack widths at the surface become wider and slab deterioration along cracks increase significantly.

When contraction joints are unacceptable and not installed, shrinkage and temperature reinforcement is required. This design
approach is sometimes referred to as continuously reinforced or joint-less slabs and allows numerous, closely spaced (3 to 6 feet),
fine cracks to occur throughout the slab.

Crack control options

In general, there are two options for controlling cracks in slabs-on-ground: 1) control the location of cracking by installing
contraction joints (does not control crack widths) or 2) control crack widths by installing reinforcement (does not control crack
location).

With Option 1, we tell the slab where to crack and widths of contraction joints or cracks in the joints are largely controlled by the
joint spacing and concrete shrinkage. As joint spacings and concrete shrinkage increases, joint widths increase. Similar to cracks,
if joint widths approach about 35 mils, the e iciency of the aggregate interlock to transfer loads and prevent di erential vertical
movements across joints can be significantly reduced. For this reason, many designers use load-transfer devices including steel
dowels, plates or continuous reinforcement through contraction joints to ensure positive load transfer and to restrict di erential
vertical movements across joints.

With Option 2, we allow slabs to crack randomly but control crack widths with steel reinforcing bars or welded wire
reinforcement. Typically, contraction joints are not installed with this option. Instead, cracking occurs randomly forming
numerous, tightly held together cracks. Because of appearance, this crack control option should always be discussed with the
owner.

Cutting reinforcement at joints

Use caution when using both crack control options in the same slab. If too much reinforcement passes through contraction joints,
joints become too sti and may not crack and open as designed. When contraction joints fail to activate (i.e., crack and open)
because of reinforcement, out-of-joint or random cracking typically occurs. If both options are used, it is necessary to limit the
amount of reinforcement passing through joints to ensure proper activation.

Some designers specify to cut all the reinforcement at contraction joints while others may specify to cut every other bar or wire.
By cutting every other bar or wire, the remaining reinforcement will help provide load-transfer and minimize di erential panel
movements but not restrict joints from activating. If the specifications and construction drawings do not indicate what to do with
temperature and shrinkage reinforcement at joints, contractors should submit a request for information. Many times contractors
are inappropriately blamed for out-of-joint cracking associated with this design issue.

Location of reinforcement

Steel reinforcing bars and welded wire reinforcement should be positioned in the upper third of the slab thickness because
shrinkage and temperature cracks originate at the surface of the slab. Cracks are wider at the surface and narrow with depth. So,
crack-control reinforcement should never be positioned below the slab's mid-depth. Reinforcement should also be placed low
enough so saw cutting does not cut the reinforcement. For welded wire reinforcement, the Wire Reinforcement Institute
recommends steel placement 2 inches below the surface or within the upper third of the slab thickness, whichever is closer to the
surface. Designers typically specify the reinforcement position by specifying concrete cover (1 1/2 to 2 inches) for the
reinforcement.

Positioning a single layer of reinforcement in the center or at mid-depth of the slab is not recommended (except for 4-inch-thick
slabs). This is an all-purpose location where the designer hopes to increase the load capacity of the slab in addition to provide
crack-width control. However, positioning reinforcement in the middle of the slab will not e ectively accomplish either objective.

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Steel reinforcing and welded wire reinforcement should be supported and su iciently tied together to minimize movements
during concrete placing and finishing operations. Otherwise, reinforcement may not be properly located in the slab. Support
reinforcement with chairs or precast-concrete bar supports. Chairs should have sand or base plates and bars should have at least
a 4-inch square base to ensure they don't sink into the subbase. Use support spacings that ensure reinforcement does not sag
between supports or is not pushed down by foot tra ic or fresh concrete. Flexible reinforcement including welded wire
reinforcement requires closer support spacing. In addition to specifying the type and amount of reinforcement, designers should
specify the type and spacing of supports to ensure proper positioning of the reinforcement.

Welded wire reinforcement should never be placed on the ground and pulled into position a er concrete placement. The "hook
and pull" technique always results in improperly positioned reinforcement. How can workers uniformly "hook and pull" welded
wire reinforcement into the specified location while standing on the reinforcement?

Placement tolerances

Vertical placement tolerance for reinforcement in slabs-on-ground is ± 3/4 inch from the specified location. For slab thicknesses
12 inches or less, the concrete cover tolerance is - 3/8 inch measured perpendicular to the concrete surface and the reduction in
cover cannot exceed one-third of the specified cover. In many cases, the cover tolerance overrides the vertical placement
tolerance. Properly placing and supporting reinforcement will help ensure compliance with these vertical placement tolerances.

References:

ACI 117-06. "Specification for Tolerances for Concrete Construction and Materials"

ACI 302.1R-04. "Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construction"

ACI 360R-06. "Deign of Slabs-on-ground"

ASCC Position Statement #2. "Location of Rolled Welded Wire Fabric in Concrete"

WRI Tech Facts. "Supports Are Needed for Long-Term Performance of Welded Wire Reinforcement in Slab-on-grade" (TF 702-R-08)

WRI Tech Facts. "How to Specify, Order and Use Welded Wire Reinforcement" (TF 202-R-03)

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