Bridge Structures 7 (2011) 43–52 43

DOI:10.3233/BRS-2011-018
IOS Press

Serviceability cracking check of circular

section piers
Ioannis A. Tegos, Nikolaos C. Giannakas and Theodoros A. Chrysanidis∗
Division of Structural Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract. The obvious, if not “scandalous”, preference of Codes in rectangular sections (regarding the mathematical expressions
of their resistances, etc.) compared to other types of sections rules out circular sections; although circular sections possess a
significant share in constructions, especially concerning columns and piers. A common deficit is the serviceability cracking
check of circular section columns and piers. This check proves to be critical at bridges of large span, mainly due to constrained
expansion/contraction of the bridge superstructure. In the present study, an analytical investigation of the problem regarding
circular sections takes place. Afterwards, the current work suggests two groups of diagrams, as far as the serviceability cracking
check is concerned. One group has to do with the environmentally favourable cases and the other with the unfavourable cases.
On one hand, the consultation of those diagrams takes place through the service eccentricities and on the other hand through the
longitudinal reinforcement ratio. Both the maximum compression stress of concrete and the tensile stress of reinforcement are
defined in this way. The latter is defined either in the centre of gravity of the tensile zone or in the extreme fiber of the tensile
zone. The work herein concerns mainly designers and it covers a subject that neither Design Codes nor international bibliography
provides sufficient data.

Keywords: Circular sections, compact, hollow, serviceability

1. Introduction state, which includes serviceability cracking check. The

The columns of the centre piers and the piles of
the foundations, which belong to monolithic bridges
of large span, are strained under constraint moments of
significant value. These moments are caused by hin-
dered expansions and contractions. The same thing
happens to structures, which have plans of large area.
It is a common secret, that the reinforcement of cen-
tre piers and foundation piles is defined based on the
results of the analysis for the ultimate limit state with-
out considering the results due to constraints. Moreover,
this reinforcement is not checked for serviceability limit
∗ Corresponding author. T.A. Chrysanidis, MSc, DIC Civil Engi-
neer, Division of Structural Engineering, Department of Civil
Engineering, School of Engineering, Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece, Tel.: +30 6937759972;
Fax: +30 2310454366; E-mail: theodoros gr@yahoo.com.
risk of cracking is small in cases where, for example,
the foundation piles are strained both under moments
and a large compressive axial force, too. But there are
cases where the strain due to moments prevails and so
the safety regarding serviceability cracking can display
a serious problem under certain circumstances.
The authors of the current work have once visited
a monolithic concrete bridge that was constructed as
a part of a large motorway. This concrete bridge had
centre piers of small height. During the winter period,
it displayed service cracks (bending-type cracks at the
head and foot of the short piers) that had a width larger
than the value of 0.3 mm. A sketch of those cracks
is shown in Fig. 1. This phenomenon was imputed to
the fact that a serviceability cracking check never took
place for the bridge in question.
Cracking check is realized easily in rectangular sec-
tions. The steel stress can be defined by an estimation of

1573-2487/11/$27.50 © 2011 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved
44 I.A. Tegos et al. / Serviceability cracking check of circular section piers
Fig. 1. Sketch of the cracking pattern of a pier.
the shape of the compressive zone using the equilibrium
conditions of the section. Reinforcement in rectangular
sections is gathered in the tensile flange of the sections,
even when many layers of reinforcement bars exist.
Due to this fact, it is logical to assume that every rein-
forcement bar, which lies in the tensile zone, displays
approximately the same stress. In contrast to rectangu-
lar sections, perimetrically reinforced circular sections
display more oddities. At extreme fibers of the section
only a very small part of the circular section exhibits
maximum stress. This fact leads to the conclusion that
circular sections display a larger compressive zone and
a smaller internal lever arm when comparing them to
rectangular sections with the same static depth. As far
as the allocated reinforcement at the periphery of the
section is concerned, one part lies in the tensile zone
and the other part lies in the compressive zone.
At the same time, the stress at steel bars is different at
each height of the section due to the distribution of bars
at the periphery. While the steel bar, which lies as far as
possible in the tensile zone, is possible to have yielded,
other steel bars, which lie near to the compressive zone,
are subject to zero stress. Since, only a small num-
ber of reinforcement steel bars display the maximum
stress, it is more probable the critical check of design to
coincide with the serviceability cracking check. If ser-
viceability cracking check is neglected, this could result
to crack widths bigger than the ones allowed from envi-
ronmental conditions and the aimed performance of the
structure. It should be noted that this danger is bigger
in circular sections compared to rectangular ones.
A need for a further investigation is supported from
the fact that the use of new DIN 1045-1 [3] and DIN-
Fachbericht 102 [4] changes the way cracking check
is performed in comparison to older DIN 1045 [2].
The latest versions investigate exclusively the point of
time where formation of final cracks takes place. In
the future, the point of time where formation of the
first crack takes place has to be, additionally, certified.
With the appearance of the first crack, a rapid increment
in steel stress is noticed. Under certain circumstances,
this steel stress can be bigger than the stress which
strains steel during the formation of the final cracks.
Recently, a group of professors [8] at the Techni-
cal University of Dresden carried out the first attempt
internationally to solve this problem. The result of their
efforts was the production of certain nomograms. Based
on these nomograms, one can perform the serviceability
cracking check at columns and piles of circular section.
Nevertheless, these diagrams present imperfections,
they are hard to use and they need, like all new coming
works, to be verified from other works [7] which utilize
a different path to reach to the result, like the current
work. Moreover, the aforementioned work from other
researchers has to be documented based on “regina pro-
batiorum”, meaning experimental research. Also, the
aforementioned effort [8] did not include the case of
hollow sections. This case is still unsettled internation-
ally and for the first time it is dealt herein.
2. Analytical investigation
2.1. Basic design assumptions and theoretical
background
As is well-known, serviceability limit state dif-
fers from ultimate limit state in the magnitude of
stresses which arise from the analysis of the com-
mon load combinations. Consequently, serviceability
limit state differs also from ultimate limit state in the
mechanical behaviour of structural elements and their
materials, meaning concrete and steel [6]. The distri-
bution of material stresses at the section, which results
from the service strain of concrete structural elements,
Figs 2 and 3, is different from the distribution which is
obtained by observing failure laws of materials and the
stress distribution before failure of the structural ele-
ment. Consequently, the familiar stress-strain diagrams
of concrete and steel, which are included in Codes and
refer to ultimate limit state conditions, are not valid for
serviceability limit state conditions. The reduced strain
 I.A. Tegos et al. / Serviceability cracking check of circular section piers 45

Fig. 2. Diagram of service stresses at columns with a circular section.

The normalised values of forces are given below,

Fig. 2:
For circular compact sections:
Nd
␯d = (1a)
␲ · r2 · ␴ c
Md
␮d = (1b)
2␲ · r3 · ␴c
Fig. 3. Stress distribution along the height of section under service
loading. For circular hollow sections:
Nd
␯d =
 (2a)
␲· r2 − rs 2 · ␴ c
of structural elements in serviceability limit state, in M
contrast to the strain in ultimate limit state, on one ␮d =
d  (2b)
2␲ · r · r2 − rs 2 · ␴c
hand results to the elastic behaviour of column and
consequently to an approximately linear variation of where:
material stresses. On the other hand, the values of mate-
rial stresses differ significantly from the values of their Md service moment applied at column
yield limit. Nd service axial force applied at column
Based on the aforementioned, the normalised forces r radius of concrete circular section
␮ (normalised bending moment) and ␯ (normalised rs internal radius of concrete circular hollow
axial force), which are applied at the column during section and
the serviceability state, should be released from terms σc maximum concrete stress under service load
related to the ultimate limit state. Specifically, one of
The relative eccentricity of column ␧ is taken into
these terms is concrete design resistance. The values
account in order to deviate initially from the need to
of normalised forces ␮ and ␯ should be taken from
calculate the service compressive stress of concrete
Eqs. (1) and (2). These equations have a general form.
␴c . The relative eccentricity can be calculated from
Moreover, they have the specialness, compared to the
the applied service section forces and the geometry of
familiar equations of normalised forces at ultimate limit
column based on Equ. (3):
state, of not being immediately applicable because the
service stress of concrete ␴c , which is implicated in the Md ␮
␧= = d (3)
calculations, is not directly known at this point. 2 · r · Nd ␯d
46 I.A. Tegos et al. / Serviceability cracking check of circular section piers

Based on the equilibrium equations of the section and the conservative solution of the problem, the service-
expressing the normalised forces ␮d and ␯d as functions ability limit state relates to the stress of the extreme
of the reinforcement ratio ␳ and the angle ␸, which tensile fiber of the section of the structural element.
corresponds to the angle that the vertical axis z forms According to the rational solution, the serviceability
with the radius r at the point of neutral axis, Fig. 2: limit state relates to the stress at the point of the resultant
Circular compact sections:
 
Nd 1 1 3 n · cos ␸
␯d = = · (π − ␸) · cos ␸ + sin ␸ − sin ␸ + ·␳ (4)
π · r2 · ␴ c π · (1 + cos ␸) 3 1 + cos ␸
  
2
Md 1 1 1 2 n · 1 − 2 · dh1
␮d = = · π − ␸ + sin 2␸ · + sin ␸ + ·␳ (5)
2π · r3 · σc 8π · (1 + cos ␸) 2 3 4 · (1 + cos ␸)

Circular hollow sections:

   
(π − ␸) · cos ␸ + sin ␸ − 13 · sin3 ␸ n · cos ␸ 2 t
␯d = + ·␳− · 1− · sin3 ␸ (6)
π · (1 + cos ␸) 1 + cos ␸ 3π r · (1 + cos ␸)


2  
π − ␸ + sin 2␸ · 21 + 13 · sin2 ␸ n · 1 − 2 · dh1 1 t
␮d = + ·␳− · (1 − cos 2␸) · 1 − (7)
8π · (1 + cos ␸) 4 · (1 + cos ␸) 4π r · (1 + cos ␸)
The term n, which is implicated in the above equa- of tensile stresses of the reinforcement. It should be
tions, is the known ratio of modulus of elasticity of steel noted that the conservative solution of the problem
over modulus of elasticity of concrete Es /Ec . Its value is proposed for unfavorable environmental conditions,
is considered equal to n = 15 in the calculations. Wiese, while the rational solution is proposed for favorable
Curbach et al. [8] and Bergfelder [1] propose that the environmental conditions Fig. 3.
ratio of moduli of elasticity should take values equal
to n = 7 for experimental loads of short-term nature ␴s d1
and equal to n = 10 for long-term loads, which exist at ␴c
1
· (1 − cos ␸) −
␴s = 2 h
(8)
real structures. Nevertheless, on one hand the influence ␴c +n 1− d1
h
mainly of creep and on the other hand the reduced value
of secant modulus of elasticity compared to the value of where:
tangent modulus of elasticity, establish the aforemen-
tioned values of bibliography [1, 8] as improper for the
␴s the value of stress of extreme tensile reinforce-
calculation of service stresses. A value equal to 32 GPa
ment for service loading,
(that corresponds to concrete grade C30/37 according
␴c the value of stress of extreme compressive
to Greek Concrete Code [5]) is assumed for concrete
fiber of the section for service loading,
modulus of elasticity and a value equal to 200 GPa
n the ratio of steel modulus of elasticity over
is assumed for steel modulus of elasticity. Hence, the
concrete modulus of elasticity Es /Ec (equal to
ratio of moduli of elasticity n takes a value equal to
15) and
n = 6.25. If a minimum creep factor ␸∞ = 1.00 is taken
␸ the angle which is formed by vertical axis z
into account, then the ratio of moduli of elasticity takes a
with radius r at the point of neutral axis.
value equal to n = 6.25 · (1+␸∞ ) = 12.5. Consequently,
the minimum value of ratio n cannot be less in reality
␴s d1
than the value 12.5. If realistic values for creep factor ␴c 0.8 − cos ␸ − 1.6 ·
are taken into account, then the value for the ratio of ␴s
= d1
h
(9)
␴c +n 1.8 − 1.6 · h
moduli of elasticity of materials is equal to n = 15 or
bigger.
Based on the notation of the diagram of Fig. 2, ␴s /␴c where:
and ␴s /␴c can be written as functions of angle ␸ and
ratio d1 /h. This can be done both for the conservative ␴¯ s the value of stress at the point of the resultant
and the rational solution of the problem. According to of tensile stresses for service loading.
 I.A. Tegos et al. / Serviceability cracking check of circular section piers
Fig. 4. Serviceability cracking check diagrams for circular compact sections.
2.2. Proposed diagrams for design against
cracking
The construction of diagrams in Figs 4 and 5 was
realized by applying the aforementioned equations in
appropriate computer software (MATLAB 7.0.1) [6].
Calculations took place for values of reinforcement
ratio from 1.0% till 4.0%. This range of values results
from the minimum and maximum requirements for
longitudinal reinforcement of columns which are spec-
ified at the 18th Chapter of Greek Concrete Code [5].
As far as angle ␸ is concerned, calculations took place
for angles ranging from ␸ = ␲/2 till ␸ = 2␲/3, with an
increment of ␲/36. These values of angles are the ones
which mark the limits for the cases of applications.
Various pairs of values have resulted from the calcula-
tions for the normalised forces ␮ and ␯. These values
are depicted in diagrams for ratios d1 /h = 0.05, 0.10
and 0.15 for circular compact sections and for ratios
t/r = 1/3, t/r = 1/4.5 and t/r = 1/6 for circular hollow sec-
tions. In the diagrams in question, Figs 4 and 5, axis of
47
abscissa corresponds to the normalised service moment
␮ and axis of ordinates corresponds to the normalised
service axial load ␯, as they are defined in Equs. (1)
and (2).
Values of stress ratios ␴s /␴c and ␴¯ s /␴c have been
designed like “rays” using a discontinuous line in the
resulted diagrams. These values are given in Figs 4
and 5 for various values of the ratio d1 /h and angle
␸, both for the conservative and the rational solution of
the problem. Furthermore, the diagrams include radial
lines, which correspond to relative eccentricity ␧.
The application procedure of diagrams for the ser-
viceability cracking check is realized as follows:
• Initially, the relative eccentricity ␧ is found based
on Equ. (3) using the service loads Md and Nd ,
which result from the analysis of the static system
for the load combination of the serviceability limit
state.
• The requested point on the diagram results by
applying the diagram for the line depicting the rel-
48 I.A. Tegos et al. / Serviceability cracking check of circular section piers
Fig. 5. Serviceability cracking check diagrams for circular hollow sections.
ative eccentricity ␧ (that has turned up from the
previous step of this procedure) and for the rein-
forcement ratio ␳ that was chosen during bending
design at ultimate limit state. This point corre-
sponds to a pair of values ␮d and ␯d and to a
discontinuous line of stress ratio ␴s /␴c (or ␴s /␴c ).
• Maximum concrete stress at compressive zone
␴c is calculated from Eqs. (1) and (2). Value of
ratio ␴s /␴c (or ␴s /␴c ) is calculated from Eqs. (8)
and (9). Having calculated ␴c and ratio ␴s /␴c (or
␴¯ s /␴c ), the value of steel stress ␴s can be defined at
this point. In the first case, this value corresponds
to the stress acting at the extreme tensile reinforce-
ment bar of the section (conservative solution). In
the second case, the same value corresponds to the
stress acting at the point of exercise of the resultant
of tensile stresses (rational solution).
Having calculated the value of steel stress ␴s , the
maximum permissible reinforcement bar diameter of
longitudinal reinforcement can be defined using Table
15.1 of the Greek Concrete Code [5]. This table is
advisable for strains due to constraints.
2.3. Example
2.3.1. Example Wiese, Curbach et al. [8, 9]
N = −320.5 kN, M = 408.02 kNm, h = D = 90 cm,
C30/37, fcd = ␣·fck /␥c = 17 MPa, ds /h = 0.9 hence
d1 /h = 0.05.
Calculation results for serviceability limit state and
ultimate limit state are shown concisely at Table 1.
These results are based both on the methodology of
Wiese, Curbach et al. [8, 9] and the proposed method-
ology.
Table 15.1 of the Greek Concrete Code [5] is
advisable for moments caused by constraints and its
application gives the value of the maximum permis-
sible reinforcement bar diameter. This value is bigger
than the placed bar diameter of 20 mm. The case of con-
servative estimation gives for the case of unfavourable
environmental conditions a result of Ø = 28 mm instead
of Ø = 20 mm, which is more economical but it is more
“unsafe”. Because of this difference (although this dif-
ference resulted from only one comparative example), it
was found necessary for an experiment to be conducted
(“the king of proofs”).
 I.A. Tegos et al. / Serviceability cracking check of circular section piers 49

Table 1 The loading of circular section beams was composed

Example of Wiese, Curbach et al. [8, 9] from a single load at the centre of the static span for
ULS ␯Ed /␮Ed −0.0388/0.042 hollow test specimens and from two symmetrically
␳0l 0.025
placed loads for compact test specimens, as it can be
As 29.9 cm2
seen in Fig. 7.
SLS (Wiese, n = N/D2 −0.396 A high definition crack width gauge measuring in
Curbach m = M/D3 0.56
et al.) [8, 9] ␳0l 0.0075 DIVS units (10 DIVS = 0.2 mm) was used for the mea-
As 46.34 cm2 suring of crack width in every test specimen. In this
15Ø20 are chosen according to the familiar way, cracks could be measured immediately after their
diagram appearance.
SLS ␧ = ␮/␯ 1.414
according As 47.14 cm2 (15Ø20)
3.2. Results
to proposed ␳ 0.0074
diagrams ␯/␮ −0.0525/0.0744
␴c 9.60 MPa Test specimen D1 with circular compact section, see
␴s (Rational) 127.68 MPa Fig. 8, which was loaded with two symmetrically placed
␴s (Conservative) 155.50 MPa
loads, displayed initially bending-type cracking and
then typical bending-shear-type cracking.
Test specimen D2 presented a service cracking
3. Experimental investigation of cracking of moment at 80 kNm while test specimen D3 at 123 kNm.
circular sections As far as crack width of specimen D4 is concerned,
the value 0.3 mm, which is set as a crack width limit
3.1. Test specimens – loading setups – from Codes [2, 3, 5], was overcome a few moments
Measurements before the failure of the test specimen.
Specimen D5 was constructed using half of the longi-
The experimental research, which was conducted, tudinal reinforcement that specimen D4 had and failed
included the construction of six test specimens of cir- from bending, as it was expected. The first bending-type
cular section [5]. Half of them had a compact section cracks appeared at the sides of the central compact part,
and the other half had a hollow section. All test speci- where the compact and the hollow parts of the speci-
mens were constructed at a scale 1 : 3. Test specimens men are connected. Measuring width of cracks, it was
were loaded like simply supported beams with a static found that the serviceability limit of 0.3 mm appeared
span equal to 1.60 m for compact sections and 1.50 m during the second loading cycle for a load value equal
for hollow sections. to 70 kN.
All test specimens had a diameter of 300 mm, while Specimen D6 overcame serviceability limit of
the ones with a hollow section had a ring thickness equal 0.3 mm of Codes [2, 3, 5] that corresponded to a service
to 30 mm. Concrete cover was equal to 7.5 mm for all moment of 50 kNm. The failure of specimen took place
six specimens. Ribbed bars of high ductility were used when cracking reached 0.6 mm, meaning a value which
as reinforcing steel for the longitudinal reinforcement. is two times bigger than the Code limit [2, 3, 5].
Ribbed spiral reinforcement was used as reinforcing
steel for the transverse reinforcement. Loading charac- 3.3. Appreciation of results
teristics, qualities of materials and spacing of bars of
the test specimens are presented at Table 2. Details of As far as the circular compact section is concerned,
cross sections are displayed in Fig. 6. the experimental service load of specimen D1 was com-

Table 2
Loading characteristics and qualities of materials
Test Section ␣ fck Longitudinal fyw Transverse fy Spacing of bars Concrete cover
specimen [cm] [MPa] reinforcement [MPa] reinforcement [MPa] [mm] [mm]
D1 Compact 65 23 48Ø8 520 Ø4.2/15 760 27 7.5
D2 Compact 65 32 16Ø10 520 Ø4.2/20 760 53 7.5
D3 Compact 65 23 32Ø10 520 Ø4.2/20 760 45 7.5
D4 Hollow 75 25 16Ø10 520 Ø4.2/20 760 53 7.5
D5 Hollow 75 20 8Ø10 520 Ø4.2/20 760 103 7.5
D6 Hollow 75 35 16Ø10 520 Ø4.2/20 760 53 7.5
50 I.A. Tegos et al. / Serviceability cracking check of circular section piers

(a) Test Specimen D1 (b) Test Specimen D2 (c) Test Specimen D3

(d) Test Specimen D4 (e) Test Specimen D5 (f) Test Specimen D6

Fig. 6. Cross sections of test specimens.

Fig. 7. Loading setups of test specimens.

pared with the service load that resulted analytically
from the two methodologies. Two more experiments of
circular compact sections were utilised in order to verify
the comparison results of the first specimen D1. For the
latter two test specimens (D2 and D3), it was assumed
that their service limit was defined by the first visible
appearance of cracks during the experiment, since they
were not detailed recordings of crack widths.
Particularly, maximum force of specimen D1, that
corresponds to service cracking of width equal to
 I.A. Tegos et al. / Serviceability cracking check of circular section piers 51

Table 3
Geometrical characteristics and analytical and experimental values
of service moments of test specimens D2 and D3
Test specimen D2 D3
Characteristics of test Ac [cm2 ] 314 707
specimens As [cm2 ] 12.57 25.13
(16Ø10) (32Ø10)
␳ 0.040 0.035
␴s [MPa] [5] 400 400
Conservative solution ␴s /␴c 19.925 21.670
␮ 0.189 0.187
␴c [MPa] 20.075 18.460
MS [kNm] 23.840 73.200
Rational solution ␴s /␴c 16.705 18.200
␮ 0.189 0.187
␴c [MPa] 23.940 21.980
MS [kNm] 28.440 87.153
Wiese/Curbach et al. [8, 9] MS [kNm] 18.800 58.600
Fig. 8. Test specimen D1. (Cracks are clarified electronically.) Experiment MS,exp. [kNm] 80 123

which arise based on experiments. The proposed analyt-

Fig. 9. Comparative diagram of compact test specimen D1.
0.3 mm, on one hand, was calculated based on the dia-
grams of bibliography [8] and on the other hand on
proposed diagrams of this current work. Service load-
ing and cracking load Pcrack defined the theoretical lines
in diagram of Fig. 9. These lines refer to the conser-
vative and rational ways of the proposed solution and
to the solution proposed in bibliography. Direct com-
parison between experimental value of crack width and
analytical estimations is possible by following this way.
As it can be seen in Fig. 9, the experimental value
of service limit load of test specimen D1 is fairly big-
ger than the analytical value according to Wiese and
Curbach et al. [8, 9]. Analytical solution of bibliogra-
phy gives much more conservative results compared, on
one hand to the suggested, in the current article, ana-
lytical solution and on the other hand to the real results
ical solution and specifically the rational one, according
to which the assumed service stress of reinforcements
relates to the centre of gravity of tensile zone, consti-
tutes an approximation closer to the real behaviour.
The validity of the above results was investigated
with the help of two more test specimens (D2 and
D3) having circular compact sections. Service moments
were computed based both on diagrams of bibliography
and diagrams of current work and they were compared
with the critical service moments, which correspond to
the load that created the first visible cracks. Geometrical
characteristics of test specimens D2 and D3 are given
in Table 3, along with the experimental results and the
calculations which have turned up based, both, on the
proposed diagrams and diagrams of Wiese et al. [8].
It is noticed that the analytical values of service
moments have a significant distance from the exper-
imental values of service moments (which cause the
same width of cracking) for both specimens. The
experimental service moment Ms was applied under
short-term loading. If it was possible to produce a long-
term experimental loading, e.g. for several months or
years, then the width of cracking would reach the value
of 0.3 mm after the passing of this long period of loading
for a value of experimental moment equal to the theo-
retical value of the analytical method. This fact would
take place because of the influence of creep effects.
Creep of the compressive zone increases the length of
the tensile zone. Therefore, initial cracks of small width
widen without the increment of the value of experimen-
tal moment. Consequently, because of the lack of creep
effects in experiments, a bigger value of experimental
moment was necessary in order to produce experimen-
52 I.A. Tegos et al. / Serviceability cracking check of circular section piers
tally the same width of cracking (equal to 0.3 mm) as
in theory.
4. Conclusions
In the framework of the current work, an analytical
investigation of the problem of serviceability cracking
of circular section columns (compact and hollow) was
attempted, since this matter is “terra incognita”, not
only for Codes [2, 3, 5] but for bibliography. There
is only one work of the same kind to display that is
relatively recent. The discovered small difference of
results (through only one example) between the two
analytical proposals led to the conduction of an exper-
imental program that aimed to the unravelling of this
small difference.
The following main conclusions can be noted:
• Based on results of a limited number of appropri-
ate test specimens of the conducted experimental
investigation, it is possible to outline the conclu-
sion that the current analytical research ends up to
results which are closer to the experiment while
the previous research of the bibliography ends up
to more conservative results. One probable expla-
nation of this difference might be the fact that the
latter research (of the bibliography) emphasizes
on the case of piles, while the first research (of the
current work) emphasizes on columns of centre
piers.
• The proposed diagrams lead eventually, through
concrete service stresses and mainly through steel
service stresses, to the definition of the permissible
diameter of longitudinal bars of bending reinforce-
ment, with the intervention of Table 15.1 of Greek
Concrete Code [5]. Therefore, the suggested dia-
grams can be characterized as easy to use and they
are linked to the existing “familiar way”.
References
[1] J. Bergfelder and J. Dittfach, Crack limitation in reinforced con-
crete piles, Beton- and stahlbetonbau 87(1) (1992), 4–8 and
46–49.
[2] DIN 1045: 1988-07. Reinforced concrete – Design and execu-
tion.
[3] DIN 1045-1: 2001-07. Concrete structures, Reinforced and pre-
stressed concrete – Part 1: Design and construction.
[4] DIN-Fachbericht 102: 2001. Concrete bridges. German Institute
for Standardisation e. V., Beuth Verlag GmbH.
[5] Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, 2000. Greek
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