Probabilistic analysis of crack widths associated with quality control procedures

Existing concrete specifications limit the crack width in order to fulfill the limits of serviceability and durability. The crack width calculation results differ depending on the influences of the variability of the used materials, the geometry, the actions and the uncertainty of the used calculation model itself. In this contribution, the influence of the variability of the input parameters on the calculated crack width is investigated using probabilistic methods in a real case study of a highly loaded tunnel lining cross-section. The primary objective of this study is a sensitivity analysis to identify the geometric and material-related input parameters with the most significant influence, which must be particularly controlled during execution for quality control purposes. The study in this article is based on the Eurocode deterministic model for calculating crack width for a stabilized cracking stage in late concrete age.