While radial and spiderweb cracking sometimes are interpreted to be symptoms of elevated punching shear stress, and therefore are mistakenly interpreted to signify high risk conditions, analysis and research both demonstrate that these crack patterns are actually characteristic of flexural behavior that typically manifests at loads significantly below ultimate punching shear capacity,
In this article, engineers Terrence Paret, Hayley Proctor, Gwenyth Searer, and Prateek Shah explore radial and spiderweb cracking in reinforced concrete two-way flat plates and flat slabs and the underlying reasons for it.
This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue of STRUCTURE magazine, exclusively published for the practicing structural engineer.
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Terrence F. Paret, Senior PrincipalWJE San Francisco MORE >People | Terrence F. Paret, Senior Principal -
Hayley A. Proctor, Associate IIIWJE San Francisco MORE >People | Hayley A. Proctor, Associate III -
Gwenyth R. Searer, PrincipalWJE San Francisco MORE >People | Gwenyth R. Searer, Principal -
Prateek P. Shah, Associate IIIWJE San Francisco MORE >People | Prateek P. Shah, Associate III -
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