CONTENTS

 Introduction

 Causes of cracks

 Detection of cracks

 Preventive Measures

 Conclusion
INTRODUCTION

 A crack is a complete or incomplete separation of

concrete into two or more parts, produced by
breaking or fracturing

 An engineer should have a sound knowledge of all

the facts of concrete technology

 Treatment of cracks involves detection, diagnosis

and remedy
TYPES OF CRACKS
 Structural cracks
-Arise due to various reasons such as incorrect
design, overloading of the structural components,
overloading of the soil on which the building is
constructed or other similar factors

 Non structural cracks

-Arise due to internal forces developed in the
buildings on account of change in the size of
building components, due to moisture variation,
temperature variations, the effect of gases, liquid
and solids on the building components.
INVESTIGATION RELATING TO
CRACKS
 Whether the crack is old or new.
 Whether it appears on the opposite face of the member also.
 Pattern of the cracks.
 Soil condition, type of foundation used, and movement of
ground if any.
 Observations on the similar structures in the same
locality.
 Study of specification, method of construction, used and the
test result at the site.
 Climatic condition during which the structure has been
constructed .
LIMITATION OF CRACK WIDTH
(IS 456: 2000)

Depending on the exposure conditions limitations on crack

width are imposed as follows
1. For members in water storage units, sewage treatment
plants, structures in chemically hazardous atmosphere, etc.
Cracks are not permitted in R.C. members.
2. In severe atmosphere up to 0.1mm crack width is permitted.
3. Moderate atmosphere up to 0.2mm crack width is permitted
4. In mild atmosphere the surface width of cracks should not
exceed 0.3mm
PERMISSIBLE CRACK WIDTH
IN REINFORCED SRTUCTURE
AS PER ACI
Exposure Condition Maximum allowable
crack width in mm

Dry air, protective membrane 0.41

Humidity, moist air 0.30

Sea water & seawater spray 0.15

Water retaining structure 0.10

CAUSES FOR THE OCCURRANCE
OF CRACKS
 Structural deficiency resulting from design deficiency or
construction deficiency and overloading.
 Temperature and shrinkage effects.
 Cracks due to faulty workman ship and poor construction
practice.
 Cracks due to settlement.
 CRACKS DUE TO
STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCY
DUE TO DESIGN DEFICIENCY
 Cracks occur due to shear, flexural and torsional
steel deficiency.

 Cracks occur due to abrupt curtailment of

reinforcing bars, construction joints etc.

 Improper anchorage.

 Cracks due to overloading of members

FLEXURAL CRACKS IN
BEAM

Fig. Flexural crack

SHEAR-FLEXURE CRACKS
IN BEAM

Fig. shear crack

DIAGONAL TENSION
CRACKS IN BEAM

Fig. Diagonal crack

TORSIONAL CRACKS IN
BEAM

Fig. Torsional crack

 CRACKS DUE TO ABRUPT
CURTAILMENT OF BARS IN BEAM

Fig. Crack due to abrupt curtailment of bars

 CRACKS DUE TO FAULTY
WORKMAN SHIP AND POOR
CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE
Causes:
1. Improper bar detailing
2. Premature removal of forms
3. Improper column form placement
4. Cold joints
5. Segregation
6. Plastic shrinkage cracking
7. Improper reinforcing steel placement
PREVENTIVE MEASURES

 By providing proper water cement ratio.

 Proper curing.

 Proper support for forms.

 Following proper design codes and

recommendations
CRACK DUE TO SETTLEMENT

 Uneven settlement can be a major structural

problem in small residential building

 Vertical distortion or cracking of masonry walls,

wrapped interiors and exterior opening

 Occurs early in life of building

SETTLEMENTS ARE CAUSED
DUE TO
 soil consolidation under footing

 loss of moisture

 water table level

 faulty drains, leaking water mains

 soil compaction or movement due to vibration

Building settlement due to cut and fill
Differential settlement caused due to variable soil type
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
 under reamed pile foundation

 foundation design for uniform distribution of pressure

 sbc is not exceeded

 soil should be well compacted

INSTRUMENTS FOR
MEASURING CRACKS IN A
STRUCTURE
 Measuring Magnifier
 Crack scope
 Digital Crack Gauge
 Lamaro Microscope
MEASURING MAGNIFIER
CRACKSCOPE

DIGITAL CRACK GAUGE LOMARO MICROSCOPE

 CONCLUSION

 As for as possible cracks should not develop in building .

And care should be taken for important & multistoried
buildings, design & execution of building

 Cracks should not develop in any circumstances as cracks

affects aesthetics’ of building & cracks may cause leaking
problems in building.
 REFERENCES
 Charles .C.Roberts , Roberts Consulting
Engineers.Inc Evaluating Cracks In Building ,Email
: CCR@Croberts.Com (Internet)
 Grishma thagunna, Department of Civil
Engineering, Western Region Campus, Tribhuvan
University, Nepal
 M.S. Shetty-“ concrete technology”
 P.C.Varghese-“Limit State Design Of Reinforced
concrete”
 Simon Wiltshier For The Technical Advisory Group
(TAG) Of The Heritage Council Of NSW May 2004
“Cracking Of Buildings Due To Shrink/Swell In Clay
Soils”
Thank You