Cracks in Installed Concrete Pipe
Reinforced concrete pipe, like other reinforced concrete structures, is designed to crack. It is well known that while concrete is very strong in compression, its tensile strength is so low that it is considered negligible in design. Therefore, RCP design accommodates the high compressive strength of concrete and the high tensile strength of steel. As load on the pipe increases, and the tensile strength of the concrete is exceeded, cracks will form as the tensile load is transferred to the steel. Typically, the cracks form a V-shape with the largest part of the crack at the surface. The presence of a 0.01-inch crack does not represent failure, but rather an indication that the concrete and reinforcement are working together, as intended.
