Cracks

Cracking in concrete can be the result of one or a combination of factors, all o

f which involve some form of restraint. The most common causes of cracks include
drying shrinkage, thermal contraction and expansion and applied stresses. Force
s can build up inside the concrete due to any of these factors, and when the for
ces exceed the strength of the material, cracks develop. Cracking is influenced
by the quality of the constituent materials of the concrete, weather conditions,
curing, manufacturing process, and handling.
Cracks are inherent in reinforced concrete and their occurrence does not necessa
rily inply problems. While cracks are often more of an aesthetic rather than str
uctural concern, they can be an indication of external problems including inadeq
uate design or overloading.
For precast concrete elements, cracks can be divided into the following types:
-thermal cracks
-plastic settlement and autogeneous shrinkage cracks
-drying shrinkage cracks
-mechanical cracks

Thermal Cracks
Concrete grows and shrinks with temperature changes. Thermal cracking occurs whe
n the tensile strain induced the period of cooling is greater than the tensile s
train capacity of the concrete. This is particularly important during the plasti
c stage of the concrete.
Factors affecting thermal cracking
1. Cement type and content
Hydration of cement is an exothermic reaction. The total amount of heat and rate
of heat generation is a characteristic of the type of cement and the cement co
ntent. The less heat generated the less potential for thermal cracking of the co
ncrete.
Concretes based on Sulfate Resistant Portland Cement (SRPC) generally give lower
temperature rises than equivalent Portland Cement based concretes. Concretes ba
sed on cement replacement materials such as Pulverized Fuel ASh (PFA) or Gorund
Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) can help to reduce peak temperatures.
Increasing the cement content generates more heat anf causes concrete to heat up
and subsequently expand. Cement contents are dictated by strength and durabilit
y requirements. High cement contents can lead to other problems such as increase
d drying shrinkage and over cohesion.
2. Aggregate type
Concrete with a low coefficient of thermal expansion greatly reduces the risk of
thermal cracking. The coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete is dependent
on the coefficients of thermal expansion of the aggregates.
3. Curing method
The curing method of the concrete can also have an influence on thermal cracks.
Precast concrete elements are usually covered with polythene sheets until the co
ncrete has reached a desired compressive strength. This minimizes the rate of te
mperature variation and reduces the likelihood of thermal cracking.