CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS

IN CONCRETE
COMMON DEFECTS
Crack

Honey Comb

Bug holes/ Blow holes

Leakage/ Seepage

Cold Joint

Surface offset

Surface Undulation

Sand Streak

Efflorescence
CRACKS
Definition DORMANT CRACKS
Visible separation of
concrete to varying extent Plastic Shrinkage Crack
of width and depth,
Plastic Settlement Crack
indicating excessive
tensile stress in the Drying Shrinkage
concrete before or after
hardening of the concrete.

Due to Overloading/Settlement

Due to inadequate strength of structural member

Due to restraint to thermal expansion/contraction

Due to differential temperature gradient

Due to weathering
HONEYCOMB
 Void left in Concrete due to failure of the mortar to fill
effectively the spaces among the coarse aggregate particles.
HONEYCOMB

• Improper vibration
Possible • Segregation during placement
• Grout loss through open joint or
Causes: holes in formwork
• Over congested reinforcement

Preventive • Proper technique of vibration

• Proper placement of concrete
Action: • Sealing all gaps in formwork
BUG HOLES/ BLOW HOLES
LEAKAGE / SEEPAGE
This is a common defect in any underground construction or in
any water retaining structure. Usually they occur more
frequently across construction joints.

•Improper construction Joint

•Improper fixing of water stops at contraction /
Expansion Joints
•Occurrence of unplanned cold joints
Possible Causes: •Inadequate vibration of concrete around penetration
EP
•Inadequate consolidation of concrete
•Concrete mix not having sufficient impermeability
•Development of cracks in concrete

•Proper grouting technique shall be adopted at affected

Preventive Action: areas
COLD JOINT
 This is an un-bonded joint between two layers of
concrete
 Cold joints occur due to placement of concrete
over previously laid concrete layer, which has
already set, without any joint preparation to
ensure bonding between the old and new
concrete. This is essentially a result of poor
construction practice and prevention is much
better than any remedial measure. They are not
only visually unpleasant but endanger the
structure in terms of strength as well as
durability.
SURFACE OFFSET
 These are common defects noticeable along line of
joint of shuttering panels. When the offset
exceeds 3 mm, it is considered as a defect.
 Normally harmless but not desirable from
aesthetic point of view, more so when the surface
is required to be painted.
 In hydraulic structures, sharp offsets can also
lead to further damage.
 These defects can be eliminated by ensuring
proper alignment and support of the form panels.
 SURFACE UNDULATION
Definition: Causes: Preventive
Deviation of * Yielding of Action:
the plane of formwork due * Proper
concrete to either fixing/bolting
surface due to inadequate of formwork
deformation or strength of the
form panel
*Material of
movement of formwork
formwork. (including
inadequate tie shall be of
bolts) or due to adequate
excessive strength
pressure *Maintain rate
generated by of pour as per
high rate of requirement
pouring
SAND STREAK
Definition
Streak of exposed fine aggregate
that can occur on the vertical
surface of formed concrete like wall
or column.
This type of defect can later cause
ugly patches due to disintegration
of the un-cemented sand.
Cause
Caused by collection of bleed water
between the formwork and the
concrete surface. The collected
bleed water absorbs the cement
from the concrete surface leaving
the fine aggregate without the
cement paste.

Preventive action
Can be eliminated by
reducing bleeding or soaking
the bleed water by an
absorbent material like gunny
bag before it flows down the
sides.
EFFLORESCENCE

Definition
Free lime present in the cement Cause
can be dissolved in water that
seeps through the concrete. At the Presence of capillaries and
surface, the water evaporates, interstices in consolidated
leaving the lime deposit as the concrete.
white powdery substance, which is
known as efflorescence.

Preventive action
Ensure properly
consolidated concrete
without capillaries and
interstices.