A study of cracking in reinforced concrete pressure vessels using micro-concrete models

Abstract

Reinforced concrete pressure vessels (and heactor vessels) are increasingly being built because of the great advantage provided by their massive halls for shielding. Cracking of these vessels may lead to the leakage of their containments - a situation that is very much undesirable, especially for safe environmental requirements. New methods of analysjs and design of these vessels, as well as experimental investigation using 'micro- concrete' models, are necessary to prevent any ex- cessive cracking leading to leakage. This thesis has been prepared for this purpose