Cracks

Chapter 10
• Cracks occur when building or it’s components
or the material of which the building is made up
of it’s subjected to forces which are greater than
those which it can withstand.

Cracks • Cracks may also occur if the material used in the

building is of poor quality and the construction
is not done according to drawing, prescribed job
specifications.
[Cracks that are acceptable for building structures
may not be acceptable for water retaining
Sagar Singh Raikhola structures.]
Types of Cracks in building
• Structural cracks
• Non Structural cracks

Types of Cracks in building Structural Cracks

Structural cracks mainly occur due to:
•Structural cracks Defective design and defective load assumptions and
perception of behavior of the structure.
Active and dormant:
In correct assessment of bearing capacity of foundation soil
 A crack where a movement is observed to and soil property.
continue is termed active. Defective detailing of joints of components like roof with
 The crack where no movement occurs is termed brick wall corner joints of walls
dormant or static. Defective structural detailing of steel reinforcement.
Lack of quality control during construction.
Due to incorrect design
Faulty construction
Overloading

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 Non Structural cracks Investigation of crack
• Moisture changes
• Thermal movement
• Elastic deformation
• Creep
• Chemical reaction
• Foundation movement and settlement of soil
• Vegetation

Diagnosis of crack WALL CRACKS

Information required for diagnosis • walls crack because they are overloaded
or because the structure has settled or
• Crack new or old heaved.
• Type (active or dormant) • Vertical and angled cracks are usually
caused by settlement or heaving.
• Whether it appears on the opposite face of the member • Horizontal cracks are more likely to be
• Pattern of the crack load induced or caused by side pressure.
• Soil condition, foundation type, movement of ground
• Observations on the similar structures in the same
locality
• Study of specifications ,method of construction used and
the test results at the site, if any
• View of designer, builder, occupants of the building if any
• Weather during which the structure has been
constructed.

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 VERTICAL CRACKS
ANGLED CRACKS:
• If a wall has an upwards overload adjacent to a • When up and down loads are applied so
downwards overload, it may crack vertically so the forces are offset from one another,
that one side rises or sinks with respect to the cracks are likely to occur at an angle
other. • Cracks of this type may be found when
• Vertical cracks are usually caused by settlement, there is a major discontinuity in the soil
compaction, or soil eroding under the footing. or if a building is built on expansive clays.
• Overloading from above can occur when
framing members fail forcing loads to areas that
were not designed for them.
• Similar cracks can also be caused by overloads
from below, such as frost or hydraulic expansion
of the soil.

HORIZONTAL CRACKS:
• When a wall is overloaded from Cracks in plaster
the outside, as from frost, soil • When plaster dries, it is a relatively
pressure, or improper backfill, it rigid material which should be
may bow inward and crack durable. However, there are
horizontally. conditions that cause plaster to crack,
• In a block wall, the crack is usually efflorescence, separate, or become
in a mortar joint and is wider on detached from its framework These
the inner face. An additional include:
cause of horizontal cracking may • Structural Problems
be settlement of the foundation.
• Poor Workmanship
• If a foundation is laid on top of
unstable soil, the wall which lacks • Improper Curing
the proper support could drop • Moisture
resulting in a horizontal crack
without vertical displacement of
the wall surface.

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 Cracks in plaster
Structural Problems
• Overloading.
• Settlement/Vibration.
Poor Workmanship
• Poorly proportioned mix.
• Improper plaster application
• Too much retardant.
• Inadequate plaster thickness.
Improper Curing
• Dry outs, freezing, and sweat-outs
Moisture
• Curing: If proper curing starts as soon as initial set
has taken place and continued for 7 to 10 days
shrinkage is comparatively less .
• Temperature: Concrete made in hot weather
needs more water for same workability hence
results in more shrinkage.
Non Structural cracks:
Moisture Changes
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
Some Measures for controlling shrinkage
• 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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 Thermal Movement •In case of framed buildings due to thermal movement
• . The cracking of a typical structure due to thermal frames are distorted and cracks may appear as shown in fig
movement is given in fig

Prevention of Thermal Cracks

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

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 General guide lines to provide movement joints
Type of Structure Movement of Joints

a RCC roof slab Provide 20 to 25 mm wide, joint at 10 to 20 M apart

b Supports for RCC slabs 4 to 6M Provide slip joint between slab and bearing wall.
length

c RCC framed structure, other load and Provide 25 to 40 mm wide expansion Joints at 30 to 45 M interval
bearing structure

d Junction between old and new Provide vertical slip joints.

structure

e Compound walls Expansion joint 5 to 8mm wide at 5to 8M interval and change of
direction.

f Concrete pavement 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.

g Chajja Provide expansion joint 5 to 8mm wide at 4 to 6 M interval.

h RCC Railing Provide expansion joints 5 to 8mm wide at 6 to 9m interval.

Elastic Deformation
Creep
 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 up to a year or
so.
 The creep in concrete may be 2 to 3 times of the
elastic deformation and hence has to be fully
cared and fully considered.

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 General measures for reduction of cracks due to Movement due to chemical reaction
elastic strain, creep and shrinkage
• Certain chemical reaction in building materials
• Water cement ratio is to be controlled. result is appreciable change in volume of resulting
• Reasonable pace of construction adopted. products and internal stresses are set up which
may result in outward thrust and formation of
• Brick work over load bearing RCC members should be done cracks.
giving a time gap.
• Soluble Sulphate reacts with tri-calcium
• Brick walls between columns should be deferred as much as aluminate in cement and hydraulic lime and form
possible. products which occupy larger volume and ends in
• Plastering of areas having RCC and brick members should developing cracks.
be done after sufficient time gap say one month.

Prevention
• Use rich mix of concrete mortar and increase cover for
RCC

• Avoid bricks containing too much soluble sulphates

(more than 5 %) and use rich mortar in such cases.

• Use expansion and control joint.

• Provide adequate damp proofing since Sulphate attack

can take place only in the presence of moisture.

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Corrosion of Reinforcement
• 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.
Cracking due to vegetation
• Large trees growing in the vicinity
of buildings cause damage in all
type of soil conditions.
• The roots of the growing tree
causes drying and shrinkage of the
sub soil and this can result in
unequal settlement of the
foundation leading to the cracks.
• Avoid fast growing tree nearby.
Foundation movement and settlement of soil
• Building on expansive clays
are extremely crack prone.
• The soil movement in such
clay is more and this causes
swelling and shrinkage and
results in crack in the
structure.
• The cracks due to settlement
are usually diagonal in shape.
Repair
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 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 polyurethane compound.
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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 Joints
• Definition
• Joints are the breaks in structural continuity.
• Joints allow space to manage change in volume of the
materials in the structure due to natural and artificial
phenomena.
• Types of joints:
• Expansion and contraction joints
• Construction joints
• Isolation joints
• Sliding joints
Functional requirements of joints
• Integrate the parts/ elements in to a functional whole
• Permit reasonable movements without affecting the strength,
stability and durability of the structure
Necessity of joints
• Materials of constructions may not be available to the required
dimension.
• Construction of monolithic component may not be completed in the
span of day or in a single effort.
• The effect of weather and thermal phenomena has serious
consequence on bulk volume of work.
• Joints are unavoidable in the construction work.
Position of joints
• Between different materials in composite structure
• Between same materials with different parts requiring different
fabrication timing
• In the well defined length of structure to allow space for shrinkage
and expansion due to thermal and moisture movements
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 Expansion and contraction joints Expansion and contraction joints
• Some important points
• Definition • Contractions are more pronounced than expansion (expansion = ½ to
• These are the joints provided in the particular location of the 1/3 of contraction).
structure as a measure to the expansion and contraction due to • IS code IS456 recommends joint (one or more) for length of
thermal effects. structures exceeding 45 meters.
• The expansion joints should extend entirely through the building • Normal practice is to provide these joints at interval of 24 to 36
forming independent units. meters.
• Probable causes for volumetric change in materials due to thermal • The thumb rule- concrete laid in summer may be provided with
effects longer interval then in winter.
• Shrinkage due to hydration of cement during setting • The width of joint for 10 meter interval concrete- 12 mm for summer
• Expansion and contraction due to temperature changes casting & 20 mm for winter casting
• Changes in moisture contents • Thermal expansion of the material;
L =  x l x t

Expansion and contraction joints Typical position of expansion joints

Some important points

The amount of shrinkage during setting depends on the water-cement ratio.
Shrinkage result experienced in 10 m length of 1:2:4 concrete:

Water cement ratio Shrinkage

0.3 1.5 mm
0.5 4.2 mm
0.7 8.0 mm

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 • Methods of joining new concrete to old one
Construction joint
• This is the joint provided in the structure when the construction of
monolithic component is not completed in the span of day or in a
single effort.
• These joints are to be managed in different places in different
structural members with out affecting their strength.
• The position and the arrangement should be settled prior to
concreting.
• These joints are either vertical or horizontal.
•Short duration stoppage of concrete;
• Joint is applied by mortar grout
• Mortar grout should have similar composition to new
concrete
•If the surface is partially hardened
• Joining surface should be scrubbed with wire or hard
brush, removing dirt and other undesirable materials
but not dislodging the aggregates
• The joining surface is then moistened with water and
cement slurry (1:1) of cream consistency, applied with
a brush followed by 150 mm thick layer of cement
mortar (1:2)

•Methods of joining new concrete to old

one •Methods of joining new
concrete to old one
•When the concreting surface has • In case of floor and roof
hardened slabs
• Joining surface is chiseled and roughened and thoroughly • Water stops to be provided in the
wetted for an hour (approx.) before placing new concrete slab section to prevent water
seepage
• The joining surface is then moistened with water and
• Horizontal strips in vertical
cement slurry (1:1) of cream consistency, applied with a elements do not require water
brush followed by 150 mm thick layer of cement mortar stops
(1:2) • Water stops are usually of rubber
• The fresh concrete should be well remade against the old, or PVC, dumbbell shaped in
with particular attention given to the corners and edges. section, measuring 115 to 225 mm,
and having the ability to stretch
along with the structures.

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