A Novel Flexural Strain Measurement Setup for RC Beam Testing

Abstract

One of the most important parameters measured in the tests at laboratory–scale of reinforced concrete (RC) beams is the flexural strains required to investigate the behavior and develop a model. Flexural strains measured precisely are of great importance both in the correct interpretation of the behavior of RC beam tested and in the development of models close to the real behavior. Moment-curvature diagrams of RC beams are also created using flexural strains. The moment-curvature relationship, which is used to examine the behavior of RC beams under bending effect, is used to determine the bearing capacity of the beam and the failure modes in bending. Moment-curvature diagrams are also used to calculate the ductility of reinforced concrete beams. Therefore, it gives an idea about the amount of plastic energy that a RC beam can store. In the literature, it has been observed that there are a lot of problems encountered in the measurement of flexural strains. In this study, a flexural strain measurement setup (FSMS) is designed, manufactured, and tested on RC beam to eliminate these problems. In addition to being cost-effective and not labour intensive, FSMS developed can quickly, easily and more accurately measure the flexural strains of RC beams. It can also easily measure the flexure strains in RC beams with various cross-sectional shapes such as rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, T, circular, etc. FSMS will certainly provide more accurate data to interpret the behavior of RC beams and to develop a model for RC beams or to check the accuracy of new strain measuring methods. As a result, the developed FSMS will provide great convenience to researchers interested in measuring flexural strains of RC beams in laboratory scale.