Structural Cracks in Concrete

AMIT KUMAR AGGARWAL ULTRATECH CEMENT LIMITED CHANDIGARH AMIT.AGGARWAL@ADITYABIRLA.COM

Introduction
The phenomenon of the appearance of cracks in concrete is often a subject of

debate. It should be accepted that cracks are inevitable in any concrete. These can
be minimized to a large extent by proper practices.

Cracks may be big or small, structural or non-structural. It do not always mean that the structure is not useable. What really matters is the type of structure and

the nature of cracking.

Types of Cracks
Cracks are generally of two types :

1.

Structural : Hardened concrete structure cracks in the tensile zone when subjected to externally imposed structural loads.

2.

Non-Structural : Concrete is liable to crack in both plastic and hardened stage due to stress which it intrinsically sustains due to the nature of its constituent materials.

Cracks can be limited to acceptable levels by means of proper design, detailing & construction techniques.

Age At Which Cracks May Appear

Sr. no. Types of Cracks Age

1
2 3 4

Plastic Shrinkage
Plastic Settlement Due to corrosion Due to Loads

First few minutes or hours after concreting.

First few minutes or hours after concreting. After one year or many years. After loads are imposed and the time duration of loading. Just after formwork supports are removed. After one or many years depending on chemical attack from outside (sulphate) or chemical reaction from within.

5 6

Due to dead weight Due to chemical changes in hardened concrete.

Structural Cracks
Flexural Cracks in RCC Beam
RCC Slab Important Characteristics Originates in maximum moment region. May be single or in groups. Maximum width at bottom/top of beam Possible Reasons Flexural capacity of beam is inadequate. Cross section or main reinforcement insufficient

RCC Column RCC Slab

RCC Beam

Support RCC Beam

Structural Cracks
Shear Cracks in RCC Beam
RCC Slab Important Characteristics Originates nearer to supports. May be single or in groups. Maximum width at neutral axis region or at bottom of beam Possible Reasons Shear capacity of beam is inadequate. Cross section or torsional reinforcement insufficient

RCC Column

RCC Beam

RCC Slab

RCC Column

RCC Beam

Structural Cracks
Torsion Cracks in RCC Beam

RCC Slab Important Characteristics Originates nearer to maximum torsion region. Single. Generally uniform width. Appears over the whole peripbery in helical form. Possible Reasons Torsion strength of beam is inadequate. Cross section or torsional reinforcement insufficient

RCC Column

RCC Beam

Structural Cracks
Bond(Corrosion) Crack in RCC Beam

RCC Slab Important Characteristics Runs above the line of reinforcement. Uniform width in general. RCC Column RCC Beam Possible Reasons Bond between reinforcing bars and concrete not satisfactory, may be due to corrosion of bars or fire damage.

Structural Cracks
Shrinkage Cracks in RCC Beam

RCC Slab Important Characteristics No regular pattern or thickness and in general. Superficial. RCC Column RCC Beam Possible Reasons Curing is inadequate or no control over water-cement ratio. Usage of excessively rich mix. Shrinkage reinforcement, if any, insufficient.

Structural Cracks
Sliding Cracks in RCC Beam

RCC Slab Important Characteristics Runs vertically at the edge of supports. Maximum width at bottom of beam. Possible Reasons Concrete in beam is disturbed at an early age when adequate strength not realised. May be due to disturbance of formwork at green stage or early deshuttering.

RCC Column

RCC Beam

Structural Cracks
Sliding Cracks in RCC Beam

Important Characteristics Appear over whole periphery. Generally over the whole length of the member. Parallel to each other. Uniformly observed.

Possible Reasons Capacity of the member in tension is adequate. Tensile reinforcement is insufficient.

RC Tie

Structural Cracks
Cracks in Columns
Crack Type Splitting Important Characteristics Building in that region. Short parallel vertical cracks. Varying widths. Possible Reasons Inferior quality concrete. Load carrying capacity of the column inadequate. Crosssection or reinforcement insufficient. Bond between reinforcing bars and concrete not satisfactory. May be due to corrosion of bars or fire damage.

Bond

Runs above the line of reinforcement. Uniform width in general.

Splitting Cracks

Bond Crack

Structural Cracks
Cracks in Columns
Crack Type Horizont al Important Characteristics Occurs near beam Column junction. Possible Reasons Moment resistance capacity of column inadequate in the corresponding region. Inadequate quantum of reinforcement or disposition of reinforcement not satisfactory. Load carrying capacity of the column is inadequate. Crosssection or main reinforcement insufficient.

Horizontal Crack
Diagonal Runs diagonally across the section. Can occur anywhere in the height. Uniform thickness.

Diagonal Crack

Conclusion

Cracks which run along the line of main reinforcement should be regarded as more serious than those which are transverse to the reinforcement.

It is important to identify the reasons for cracking and examine the nature of the crack before venturing to repair it.

Reference : Ambuja Technical Literature Series 82