THE EFFECT OF EPOXY-COATED REINFORCEMENT AND CONCRETE QUALITY ON CRACKING OF FLAT-PLATE SLAB-COLUMN CONNECTIONS

This paper presents the responses of specimens specimens representing typical slab-column connections in parking garage structures. Three sl ab-column specimens were constructed with normal-strength concrete and three with high-performance concrete. Uncoated reinforcing bars and t wo different epoxy coating thicknesses were used in the test specimens . Each slab-column specimen was supported on a single column and loade d at the four corners to simulate the moments and shears in the slab. The high-performance concrete specimens exhibited smaller crack widths than the normal-strength concrete specimens for both dead and live lo ads. Specimens reinforced with epoxy-coated bars showed larger crack w idths than companion specimens reinforced with uncoated bars. An incre ased coating thickness resulted in larger crack widths. Crack widths p redicted were compared to test results.