ABSTRACT
To introduce the description of the relation between compressive fracture energy and the final strain value in tension steel bars, test results of the behavior of reinforcing bars in concrete and the effect of specimen height on the compressive fracture behavior of concrete are presented. The shape of the compressive stress–strain curve after peak load is shown to depend strongly on specimen height. On the other hand, the total compressive fracture energy in specimens of various heights tends to be constant. In the case of deformed bars covered with concrete, the yield plateau does not appear and the strain at rupture decreases. The yield limit reinforcement ratio (similar to the so-called balanced failure reinforcement ratio) and the rupture limit reinforcement ratio are expressed using the compressive fracture energy of concrete. The possibility is pointed out that the rupture limit reinforcement ratio decreases as the effective depth of the RC beam cross-section increases.
