4.

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Structural cracks
 due to incorrect design
 faulty construction
 Overloading
Non Structural cracks
 Moisture changes
 Thermal movement
 Elastic deformation
 Creep
 Chemical reaction
 Foundation movement and settlement of soil
 Vegetation

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 Building materials expand on absorbing moisture and
shrink on drying. These are generally reversible.
Shrinkage in concrete or mortar depends on a number
of factors.
 Cement concrete: Richer the mix greater is the
drying shrinkage.
 Water content: More water in mix induces greater
shrinkage .
 Aggregates : Large aggregates with good grading has
less shrinkage for same workability as less water is
used

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 Curing: If proper curing starts as soon as
initial set has taken place and continued for 7
to 10 days shrinkage is comparatively less
 Excessive fines: More fines in aggregate
requires more water for same workability and
hence more shrinkage.
 Temperature: Concrete made in hot weather
needs more water for same workability see Fig
– 8 and hence results in more shrinkage.
 Temperature: Concrete made in hot weather
needs more water for same workability hence
results in more shrinkage.

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An example of cracks of wall due to initial
expansion of bricks is given in fig

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 Shrinkage in plastering can be reduced by
ensuring proper adhesion. The plastered should
not be stronger than the back ground.
 Shrinkage cracks in masonry can be minimized by
avoiding use of rich cement mortar and by
delaying plastering till masonry has dried after
proper curing and has undergone most of its initial
shrinkage.

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 Tool Kit for Engineers

 . The cracking of a typical structure due to thermal

movement is given in fig

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4.10/ P/ 8
Tool Kit for Engineers

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To prevent thermal cracks expansion joints, control joints
and joints in case of change of shape and direction of wing
in a structure are to be provided

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4.10/ P/ 11
   Type of Structure
a RCC roof slab
b Supports for RCC slabs 4
to 6M length
c RCC framed structure,
other load and bearing
structure
d Junction between old and
new structure
e Compound walls
f Concrete pavement
g Chajja
h RCC Railing
Tool Kit for Engineers
Movement of Joints
Provide 20 to 25 mm wide, joint at 10 to 20 M apart
Provide slip joint between slab and bearing wall.
Provide 25 to 40 mm wide expansion Joints at
30 to 45 M interval
Provide vertical slip joints.
Expansion joint 5 to 8mm wide at 5to 8M
interval and change of direction .
Provide 20 to 25mm wide joints at 25m to 40m interval
with control joints at 5 to 8m. In cross direction control
joints have to be provided at 3 to 5 m intervals.
Provide expansion joint 5 to 8mm wide at 4 to 6
M interval.
Provide expansion joints 5 to 8mm wide at 6 to
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9m interval.
4.10/ P/ 13
Building items such as concrete and brick work
when subjected to a sustained load not only
undergo elastic strain but also develop gradual and
slow time dependent deformation known as creep
or plastic strain. The creep in brick work may stop
after 4 months but the same in concrete continue
upto a year or so. The creep in concrete may be 2
to 3 times of the elastic deformation and hence has
to be fully care fully considered.

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 Water cement ratio is to be controlled.
 Reasonable pace of construction adopted.
 Brick work over load bearing RCC members should
be done after removal of shutting giving a time gap.
 Brick walls between columns should be deferred as
much as possible.
 Plastering of areas having RCC and brick members
should be done after sufficient time gap say one
month or suitable groves provided in junction.
 Shutting should be allowed stay for a larger period say
30 days or so for cantilevers which are bound to
defect appreciably.

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 Certain chemical reaction in building materials result is
appreciable change in volume of resulting products and
internal stresses are set up which may result in outward
thrust and formation of cracks.
 Soluble sulphate reacts with tricalcuium aluminate in
cement and hydraulic lime and form products which
occupy larger volume and ends in developing cracks. An
example of cracking of a floor due to coming in contact of
the sub base made of brick khoa with heavy sulphate
content and water can be seen in fig

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4.10/ P/ 17
Ifsulphate content in soil is more that 0.2 % or in ground
water more than 300 ppm use rich mix of concrete ant mortar
has to be adopted.
Avoid bricks containing too much soluble sulphates (more
than 5 %) and use rich mortar in such cases.
Use expansion and control joint at closure intervals 

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Corroded reinforcement expands and cracks the
concrete cover. To avoid this phenomenon rich mix
of concrete using proper quality of water and
adequate cover should adopted.

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Building on expansion clays are extremely crack prone. The soil
movement in such clay is more appreciable upto a depth of 1.5 to
2M and this cause swelling and shrinkage and results in crack in
the structure. The cracks due to settlement are usually diagonal in
shape. Crack appearing due to swelling is vertical Fig

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Large trees growing in the vicinity of buildings cause
damage in all type of soil conditions. If the soil is shrinkable
clay cracking is severe

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 The repair for cracks may be undertaken after ascertaining the reasons for
the appearance of the crack. A few basic principles if followed will be
more effective
1.  Rendering of minor crack less that 1m wide may be done after observing
the crack for some time and then sealing it with weak mortar of cement,
lime and sand. 
2.   Cracks where width change with season should be filled up with elastic
fillers like silicon or polyurethene compound.
3.   Where sheer crack are observed shear keys made of RCC concrete with at
least 1.5 percent steel vein forcemeat may be provided at 1 to 1.5m
intervals.
4.  If cracks are due to movement of soil in black cotton once, prevention of
moisture penetration in the surrounding areas has to be ensured by
providing a waterproof blanket around the plinth. The masonry wall below
ground level should also be separated from the adjoining soil by replacing
the existing soil with coarse grain material.
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Structural cracks mainly occur due to:
a)      Defective design and defective load assumptions and
perception of behavior of the structure.
b)      In correct assessment of bearing capacity of foundation
soil and soil properly.
c)      Defective detailing of joints of components like roof
with brick wall corner joints of walls
d)      Defective detailing of structural detailing of steel
reinforcement.
e)      Lack of quality control during construction.

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Tool Kit for Engineers

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