The　cracking　behavior　of　lightweight　aggregate　concrete　(LWAC)　was　investigated　by　mechanical　analysis,　SEM　and　cracking-resistant　test　where　a　shrinkage-restrained　ring　with　a　clapboard　was　used.　The　relationship　between　the　ceramsite　type　and　the　cracking　resistance　of　LWAC　was　built　up　and　compared　with　that　of　normal-weight　coarse　aggregate　concrete　(NWAC).　A　new　method　was　proposed　to　evaluate　the　cracking　resistance　of　concrete,　where　the　concepts　of　cracking　coefficient　zeta　(t)(t)　and　the　evaluation　index　A　(cr)(t)　were　proposed,　and　the　development　of　micro-cracks　and　damage　accumulation　were　recognized.　For　the　concrete　with　an　ascending　cracking　coefficient　curve,　the　larger　A　(cr)(t)　is,　the　lower　cracking　resistance　of　concrete　is.　For　the　concrete　with　a　descending　cracking　coefficient　curve,　the　larger　A　(cr)(t)　is,　the　stronger　the　cracking　resistance　of　concrete　is.　The　evaluation　results　show　that　in　the　case　of　that　all　the　three　types　of　coarse　aggregates　in　concrete　are　pre-soaked　for　24　h,　NWAC　has　the　lowest　cracking　resistance,　followed　by　the　LWAC　with　lower　water　absorption　capacity　ceramsite　and　the　LWAC　with　higher　water　absorption　capacity　ceramsite　has　the　strongest　cracking　resistance.　The　proposed　method　has　obvious　advantages　over　the　cracking　age　method,　because　it　can　evaluate　the　cracking　behavior　of　concrete　even　if　the　concrete　has　not　an　observable　crack.