M3M INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

TIPS ON PREVENTING PLASTIC SHRINKAGE CRACKS IN CONCRETE

STRUCTURES DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITION AT PROJECT SITES

Concrete cracks under tensile stresses. Non-structural plastic shrinkage cracks occur often primarily
due to a combined effect of restraint and contraction characteristics of concrete which does not impair
the strength of concrete structures but workmanship during placing and finishing of concrete plays a
prominent role in this phenomenon like proper compaction etc.

 Plastic Shrinkage cracks takes place due to Concrete placed in High Temperature,
heavy wind condition & lack of early curing of concrete.

Majority of the cracks appearing in the concrete at plastic stage during first 24 hours due to plastic
shrinkage. Below Monograph has been taken from ACI 305R-5, 99 and IS 7861.1975 Part-I

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It can be used to control various parameters so as to control the Plastic Shrinkage Cracks. The most
easily to apply solution in a typical site situation would be “To increase relative humidity of the
concrete surface by water fogging/sprinkling during early hours when evaporation is high”.

Other relevant precautions are listed below:-

1. During construction of Raft foundation in hot and dry weather, dampen the surface of PCC
surface which is liable to water absorption from concrete. But remember the surface should not be
over dampened.
2. Have proper manpower, equipments and supplies on hand so that the concrete can be placed and
finished properly and timely.
3. In very hot weather conditions, concrete should not be placed in the afternoon, because it can lead
to plastic shrinkage cracks on concrete due to loss of water. Therefore it is a good practice to schedule
concrete placement in early morning or early evening. This way we can have better control over
concrete temperature.
4. Concrete temperature should be below 38°C during pouring in formwork at Project site.
5. Ensure the Formwork is leak-proof.
6. Do not over-vibrate the concrete and avoid excessive laitance at top of concrete surface. While
compacting with needle vibrators, concrete should be poured in layers of 300 to 450 mm in thickness
and vibrator to be inserted vertically at uniform spacing over the entire area of placement area and the
vibrator should penetrate rapidly to the bottom of the layer and atleast 150 mm into the preceding
layers. It should be held generally 5 to 15 seconds until the compaction is considered adequate and
then withdrawn slowly at the rate of about 80 mm per second.
7. Do not use poker needle of vibrator in inclined manner and do not use it to drag the concrete.
8. Concrete shall be poured and finished in formwork before 3 hours from concrete batching time.
9. Start water Fogging/sprinkling before bleed water dries out at concrete surface.
10. Covering concrete surface with Plastic sheets to avoid evaporation from the wet surface of
concrete structure.
11. Do water ponding over horizontal surfaces of slab/Raft foundation after final set of concrete and
keep ice-blocks over slab/raft foundation, if possible.

 Thermal Cracks due to temperature differentials in thick sections:-

1. This is not a plastic shrinkage cracks and it can be due to minimum dimension/thickness of the
concrete structure is 500mm or more.
2. Protect concrete structure from extreme ambient temperature variations.
3. Insulating the concrete surface by use of suitable materials.

 General Measures to avoid cracks:

1. Ensure that staging and formwork is sturdy enough to take the impact from placing equipment.
2. Take extra precautions in locations of unexpected section change.
3. On appearance of cracks in green state, apply broom to disturb the surface.
4. Pour cement slurry in cracks by making “V” shaped grooves of 5-7mm and ensure wet condition
to allow autogenously healing of cracks in plastic concrete.

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