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WHY CRACKS FORM IN CONCRETE A crack’s status is critically important. Active cracks
STRUCTURES may require more complex repair procedures that
may include eliminating the actual cause of the
Concrete provides structures with strength,
cracking in order to ensure a successful long-term
rigidity, and resilience from deformation. These
repair. Failure to address the underlying cause
characteristics, however, result in concrete
may result in the crack’s repair being short-term,
structures lacking the flexibility to move in response
making it necessary to go through the same process
to environmental or volume changes.
again. Dormant cracks are those not threatening a
Cracking is usually the first sign of distress in structure’s stability, but those responsible for the
concrete. It is, however, possible for deterioration structure must address durability issues and take
to exist before cracks appear. Cracking can occur appropriate action if aesthetics are a priority.
in both hardened and fresh, or plastic, concrete as
A crack’s environmental conditions influence the
a result of volume changes and repeated loading.
extent to which it affects its structure’s integrity.
This involves tensile stresses being loaded onto
Greater exposure to aggressive conditions increases
the concrete, the cracks occurring when the force
the possibility of structural instability.
exceeds its maximum tensile strength.
Cracks’ sizes range from micro-cracks that expose
We at Bluey Technologies maintain that it is
the concrete to efflorescence to larger cracks caused
important to understand the reasons why cracking
by external loading conditions. Noting cracks’ sizes,
occurs, the type of crack formed, and cracks’ effects
shapes, and locations can aid in determining their
on structural stability. Once you understand these
initial causes. Figure 2 illustrates the types of cracks
points you can take the appropriate action. This
and their primary causes in relation to their location.
may mean leaving the crack alone, injecting the
crack with an appropriate material, or applying Figure 1: Types of cracks and their causes
other suitable repair methods.
CRACKING IN PLASTIC CONCRETE
EVALUATING CRACKS’ CAUSES AND
Cracks that form in plastic concrete can be
STATUS
categorised as either plastic shrinkage cracking or
It is important to identify the primary concern in plastic settlement cracking. Both of these types
regard to any cracking. The main concerns are result from the bleeding and segregation process
whether the cracks are affecting structural integrity, that occurs when fresh concrete is placed. Such
caused by inappropriate design, aesthetically cracks usually appear from one to six hours after
unacceptable, or reducing durability. You can only concrete placement.
identify the primary concern after evaluating a crack
thoroughly.
2 Bluey Technologies
Evaluating Cracking In Concrete
PROCEDURES
Shrinkable aggregates
Crazing
Corrosion of reinforcement
Alkali-aggregate reactions
CHEMICAL
Cement carbonation
shrinkage
Accidental overload
STRUCTURAL Creep
Design loads
Plastic shrinkage
PLASTIC
BEFORE
TYPES OF CRACKS Plastic settlement
HARDENING
Formwork movement
CONSTRUCTIONAL
MOVEMENT
Sub-grade movement
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Evaluating Cracking In Concrete
PROCEDURES
factors to be aware of include the type of aggregate, The optimum condition for preventing drying
water content, binder type, and the concrete’s mix shrinkage is a relative humidity of 100%. This is
proportions and mechanical properties. rarely possible, so sealing the concrete surface
to prevent moisture loss can control the amount
The amount and type of aggregate and the cement
of shrinkage, and the use of suitably spaced
paste are the main influences on the amount of drying
contraction joints and proper steel detailing allows
shrinkage. To minimise the amount of shrinkage it is
shrinkage to occur in a controlled manner.
best to use a stiff aggregate in high volumes relative
to the cement paste. The rate of shrinkage increases Bluey Technologies’ BluCem range contains
with the volume of cement paste. The aggregate shrinkage-compensating cements that you can also
provides internal restraints to shrinkage. Similarly, use to control the degree of concrete shrinkage.
increases in the ratio of water to cement in the cement
paste increase the level of shrinkage by increasing the
potential for volume loss through water evaporation.
Drying Shrinkage
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Evaluating Cracking In Concrete
PROCEDURES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
As the outside of the concrete cools Chemical reactions in concrete can be due to the
more quickly than the inside it shrinks, materials used to make it or materials that may have
and the pressure caused by the inner come into contact with it after it has hardened.
section’s lack of shrinkage produces The cause of the cracking is the expansive reactions
tensile stresses that, when exceeding between the aggregate and the alkalis in the cement
the concrete’s tensile strength, cause the paste. The chemical reaction occurs between active
concrete to crack to relieve the pressure silica and alkalis, producing an alkali-silica gel as a
by-product. The alkali-silica gel forms around the
surface of the aggregate, increasing its volume and
Cooler Hotter putting pressure on the surrounding concrete. This
increase in pressure can cause the tensile stresses
to increase beyond the concrete’s tensile strength.
When this occurs the concrete cracks to relieve the
pressure.
Volume differentials are likely to develop in the Concrete usually provides passive protection to the
concrete when different temperatures occur across steel as it forms a protective oxide coating around
a concrete section. The concrete then cracks when it in an alkaline environment. However, corrosion
the tensile stresses imposed by a change in volume may occur if carbonation alters the concrete’s levels
differential exceed that of its tensile strength. of alkalinity.
Thermal stresses usually cause cracking in mass Corroding reinforcement steel produces iron oxides
concrete structures, the main cause of the and hydroxides as by-products. As these form on
temperature differentials being the influence of the the steelworks surface its volume increases. This
heat of hydration on volume change. The heat of increase in volume increases the pressure on the
hydration is the amount of heat released during the concrete and causes radial cracking as the concrete
cement’s hydration, causing a temperature differential fails under the tensile stresses. It is important to
to occur between the concrete structure’s centre and address these cracks because as they become larger
exterior as a result of either greater exterior cooling oxygen and moisture have a greater chance of
or greater heat hydration in the centre (see Figure 4).
Either situation puts increased pressure on the exterior
as the heat tries to escape from the core.
Adding water to concrete to Reduces concrete strength Increased drying shrinkage and
increase its workability plastic settlement cracking
Increases settlement
Lack of support forms, Increases settlement Concrete cracks from its load
inadequate consolidation, before it has developed enough
Insufficient support for the setting
and incorrect placement of strength to support itself
concrete
construction joints
Joints open at points of high stress
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Evaluating Cracking In Concrete
PROCEDURES
CONSTRUCTION OVERLOADS
It is important to pay close attention to the way members to reduce the risk of uncontrolled
you load, transport, and unload pre-cast concrete, cracking. Factors that can reduce cracks’ widths are
and how you secure it in place. At any one of these an increased amount of steel reinforcement and
stages the pre-cast concrete modules can become larger concrete sections to disperse the loads more
subject to stresses that overload their structure. evenly.
If these stresses occur in the concrete’s early ages
they may result in permanent cracks. You need to
THE DESIRED OUTCOME OF CRACK
employ lifting procedures that disperse the load
REPAIRS
across the structure in order to reduce the risk of
overload stresses. Once you understand the cause and significance
of the cracking you need to apply the appropriate
Pre-tensioned beams may present cracking
repair method or methods. You should select
problems at the time of stress relief, especially in
the repair method based on an evaluation of the
beams that are less than one day old.
crack and the repair’s objective or objectives.
You need to pay particular attention to the storage Such objectives include (a) restoring or increasing
of materials and operational equipment during the strength, (b) restoring or increasing stiffness, (c)
construction phase, as these may generate loads improving functional performance, (d) providing
that exceed those that the structure was designed watertightness, (e) improving the concrete
to withstand. surface’s appearance, (f) improving durability, and
(g) preventing the development of a corrosive
environment for the reinforcement.
ERRORS IN DESIGN AND DETAILING
For detailed guidelines for the preparation and
Numerous problems can occur due to incorrect
application of crack-repair methods related to Bluey
design and detailing, including increased
Technologies products please refer to the relevant
concentrations of stress from poorly designed
documentation.
re-entrant corners, cracking due to inadequate
reinforcement, and excessive differential movement
from improper foundation design. It is therefore IMPORTANT NOTE
important to ensure that the design and detailing
Bluey Technologies offers this document as a
are specific to the particular structure and the
standard guide for evaluating cracking in concrete. It
loads to which it will be exposed. Overlooking
remains the responsibility of the engineer or client
these points may result in cracking, causing a major
to determine the correct methods of evaluation.
serviceability problem.
Bluey Technologies accepts no liability, either
directly or indirectly, for any losses suffered in
EXTERNALLY APPLIED LOADS
connection with the use or application of our
Most concrete structures are susceptible to products, whether in accordance with any advice,
external loads that induce tensile stresses through specification, recommendation, or information it
their concrete members. It is important to deal has provided or otherwise.
with these loads in the most effective way, so try
to disperse the load evenly across the individual