CONCRETE CRACKING –

FROM DIAGNOSTICS TO
REPAIR
JE – NUR 2021
Introduction

 Concrete is a durable material. However, it has characteristics

and properties that may result in distress manifestations. These
manifestations may be caused in the fresh, unhardened state or
in the hardened state.
Cause of Concrete Cracks
 Concrete is very strong in compression –28-day compressive
strength ranges from about 3000 psi to over 10,000 psi
 But it is weak in tension –Tensile capacity is about 10% of its
compressive strength, any induced tensile stress may cause the
concrete to crack
Source of Tension in Concrete

•Externalor “Structural”Sources
 Gravity loads: dead and live loads
 Lateral loads: wind and seismic
 Loads from subgrade settlement or swelling

•“Internal”Mechanisms
 Volume change restraint due to temperature changes or drying
shrinkage
 Expansion due to corrosion of reinforcing steel or deleterious
chemical reactions
 UNDERSTANDING THE CRACKS

Generally cracks can be divided into two types : Structural cracks and Non-structural cracks.
a. Structural Cracks :
Structural cracks may rise due to various reasons such as incorrect design, overloading of the
structural components. Structural cracks endanger the stability of the building and may be
difficult to be rectified.
 CRACKS ON BEAMS AND COLUMNS

 This type of failure occurs when a material strains under stress. When two materials (having
different elastic properties) built together under the effect of load then different shear stresses in
these materials create cracks at the junction. Dead and live loads are the main cause of elastic
deformation in any structural components of a building. Preventive Measures: Create slip joints
under the support of concrete slab on walls. Provide horizontal movement joints between the
top of brick panel and reinforced cement concrete beam/slab.
 UNDERSTANDING THE CRACKS

(b) Non-structural cracks(Hair cracks): Non-structural cracks are usually caused by

the following:
Non-structural cracks are generally due to internal forces developed
in the building materials due to moisture variation,temperature
1.Poor concrete mix
changes and suitable remedial measures can be taken to control it. 2.Poor workmanship and construction
methods
Cracks may appreciably vary in width from very thin hair crack barely
3.Improper or no construction joints
visible to naked eye to gaping crack.
4.Poor structural detailing

Depending upon the crack width , the cracks are classified as :

 Thin Crack -less than 1 mm in width.
 Medium Crack -1 to 2 mm in width.
 Wide Crack -more than 2 mm in width.
 Crazing -Occurrence of closely spaced fine cracks at the surface
of a material is called crazing.Crazing is the development of a
network of fine random cracks on the surface of concrete or
mortar caused by shrinkage of the surface layer.
 CAUSES OF CRACKING IN PLASTIC
CONCRETE

Plastic Shrinkage
 Very Rapid Loss of Moisture Factors are: Contraction Caused by Evaporation

–Concrete and air temperature

–Relative humidity
–Wind velocity
 Moisture migrates to surface.
 “Bleeding”results in moisture on the surface of
concrete caused by settling of the heavier
components of mixture.
 If moisture evaporates faster than water is being
supplied to surface by bleeding, there is tendency for
reduction in volume near surface.
PLASTIC SHRINKAGE CRACK

Similar to “Shrunk”Soil
Shrinkage and Cracking

 Sawing Joint to Relieve Drying Shrinkage

Crack at Sawed Control Joint

 UNDERSTANDING THE
CRACKS

Cracks On Walls

 Step cracks, stairstep cracks or stepping cracks

all refer to cracks that follow the mortar joints in
a block wall. The cracks step up or down along
the mortar. In many cases, this type of crack is
caused by minor movement of the footing,
shrinkage or wall movement, and by itself is not
a major cause for concern; however, wide
cracks or step cracks combined with other
cracks and movement indicate a problem.
Different Types Of Cracks on walls
CRACKS DUE TO WEAK FOUNDATION

Foundation Movement and Settlement of Soil Shear

cracks in buildings occur when there is large
differential settlement of foundation and it may be
either due to the following reasons:
1. Unequal bearing pressure under different parts of
the structure
2. Bearing pressure on soil being in excess of safe
bearing strength of the soil
3. Low factor of safety in the design of foundation
4. Local variation in the nature of supporting soil
 UNDERSTANDING THE CRACKS

Corrosion of Reinforcement

There are two major causes of corrosion in the reinforcing steel: chloride penetration and
carbonation. Chloride penetration reduces the pH level of the concrete when oxygen,
chlorides, and moisture all penetrate the concrete. Chlorides can be found in potable
water, which should never be used to mix concrete. Carbonation occurs when carbon
dioxide and moisture infiltrate the concrete, reducing the pH level of the concrete
UNDERSTANDING THE
CRACKS
Alkali-Silica Reaction
 •Caused by reaction of alkaliesin cement with
silica aggregates
Chemical Reactions
•Between cement paste and aggregate
•Between sulfates in water or soil and cement
UNDERSTANDING THE CRACKS

Swelling/Shrinkage of Soil Beneath Slab

Causes
 Settlement of fill

Differential movement of foundation

 During wet season, clay soil beneath edge of slab gets wet, swells and lifts
outside edge of slab
 During drought, soil shrinks around edge of slab and allows edge of slab to drop
 Walls are put under stress and often crack
 UNDERSTANDING THE CRACKS

Settlement of Foundation on Fill

1) Settlement of the underlying soils (typically

due to inadequately compacted fill material
used to raise site grade during construction)

Typical Foundation on Grade Damage Due to Seasonal Drying

2)Shrinkage or swelling of the

underlying soils resulting from
moisture changes
UNDERSTANDING THE CRACKS

 Damage Due to Site Drainage Damage Due to Trees

3)Shrinkage or swelling of the underlying

soils resulting from moisture changes
DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATION
 STEP 1

1. A review of the available design and construction

documentation
 Gathering information 2. A review of the operational and maintenance
records
from the client/the 3. A visual examination of the structure
owner of the building, 4. Testing of specimens of concrete recovered from
the structure
as 5. An assessment of the scale and severity of the
defects
6. Detailed stability and stress analysis together with
forensics would be undertaken by professional
engineering bodies and has been dealt with
substantially by my learned colleagues in some of
the earlier presentations
 STEP 2

Visit The Site

 When you visit the site, always carry proposed building  The cracks are mapped.
drawings. Check whether the building is constructed as  Locations along wall and crack
per the plan.
widths are measured.
 Check its present use of the structure or any change in
the usage of building.  Construction history is
 Photograph the cracks and number them documented.
 Mark the width of crack
 Check for any tilting of walls or tilting of any structural
members, deflections, staining, water leakage, spalling,
and corrosion.
 Collect the samples from the site.
 Crack Survey
STEP 2

Summary of Wall Crack Survey

STEP 3

Understand The Cracks And Its Causes. Find the type of crack -Is it live
or dead crack.

Find the causes of cracks :

Is it permeability of concrete, corrosion of reinforcement, moisture
variation, temperature variation, poor construction practices, poor
structural design and specifications, elastic deformation, creep,
chemical reaction, foundation movement & settlement of soil
,growth of vegetation, additional alternation of structures.
 STEP 4 - STEP 6
STEP 4 :
Monitoring And Measuring
The Movements Of Cracks
 i. Using tell-tale
 ii. Crack width gauge
 iii. Precision calipers
STEP 5: STEP 6 :
Finding The Suitable techniques To Formation Of Report
Repair Crack
i. Epoxy injection
ii. Routing and sealing
iii. Stitching
iv. drilling and plugging
v. gravity filling
vi. drying packing
vii. polymer impregnation and
underpinning
Case Study CRACKED SLAB ON GRADE
 Cracked Slab on Grade

 One-story wood-framed residence was Investigation

constructed on concrete slab. •At request of builder, an inspection was
 Construction was during wet weather. made approximately three years after slab
was constructed.
 Cracking was noted in slab within 6 months. •The only remaining complaints involved
cracks in walls and cracks in foundation.
Complaints by Owner •Both of these complaints, if valid, suggested
• “Cracks in walls” that foundation movement was the cause
• “Numerous, severe cracks in foundation”
• “Doors not opening properly due to foundation
failure”
• “Improper operation of windows due to
foundation failures”
 Cracked Slab on Grade

Numerous Cracks in Slab

 A visual survey of the slab,
which had not been
covered, revealed
numerous cracks.
 Cracks were sketched on
a plan.
 Crack widths were noted.
 Cracked Slab on Grade

Finding
 Cracking was uniformly distributed
0.125-in. in hall in BR wing
throughout the slab.
 Even in areas where there was little
difference in elevations.
 In the bedroom wing where the
variation in level was only ¼inch, there
was a wide crack in the hall.
 Most of the slab is within ¾inch.
 Worst unlevel is 1 ¼in—no wall cracking 0.125-in. crack in Living Room
in that area.