Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Classification:
Non structural cracks do not endanger the safety of building, but they create an
impression of faulty work or instability. They also spoil the external finish of the
building due to penetration of moisture, thus increasing the cost of maintenance.
Vertical cracks normally occur in walls due to horizontal movement and due to
restraint provided by the foundation.
Internal stresses could be compressive, tensile or shear. Normally all materials that
crack are weak in tension and shear, such as masonry, concrete, plaster etc.
iv.Creep
v.Chemical reaction
Moisture Movement:
Most building materials have pores in their structure. They expand on absorbing
moisture and shrink on drying. These movements are reversible and cyclic in nature.
The extent of movement depends upon the porosity of materials.
Some irreversible movement also takes place, e.g. shrinkage of cement on initial
drying.
For these materials special treatment such as protective coating of surface etc
are required.
Irreversible shrinkage normally occurs in all building materials that are cement
based. This shrinkage is one of the main causes of cracking in structures.
Initial shrinkage in cement concrete and mortar depends upon: cement & water content,
maximum size-grading-quality of aggregates, duration-method-temperature of curing,
presence of excessive fines in aggregates, humidity, type of cement, temperature of fresh
concrete etc.
Presence of excessive silt, dust etc in sand and stone aggregates has considerable
effect on shrinkage in concrete. It should not exceed 3%.
iiiShrinkage is much less in coastal areas due to high humidity whereas it is very
high in plains of UP.
vi.Sometimes cracks appear on freshly laid concrete even before it sets. This
happens when rate of evaporation is higher than bleeding. In such
circumstances, concrete should be covered with plastic sheet immediately after
concreting and flood cured after initial set has occurred.
ViiCyclic changes are very prominent in porous bricks.
Dry bricks are water hungry and should not be used without wetting.
ViiiNext slide shows how a small return wall cracks due to expansion.
In plaster over masonry the cracks could be controlled by providing good bonding
with the wall. Deep raking of brick joints provide good key between the wall and the
plaster.
Cement plaster richer than 1:6 is harmful for external wall exposed to high
temperature variations, since it will create a stronger membrane than the surface of
brick.
Coarse well graded sand should be used for plaster. Fine sand will result in crazy
cracks.
Strong bond between concrete and plaster prevents shrinkage cracks, if rendering is
done as early as possible after removal of shuttering. Key to plaster is provided by
hacking and applying cement slurry just before rendering
Shrinkage cracks affect the appearance and finish and not the structural stability.
Cracks in walls generally get localized at weak sections, such as doors and window
openings or staircase walls. In external walls shrinkage cracks generally run
downwards from window sill to the lintel of the lower storey.
Protect the surface and edges of plywood/ vaneer/ blockboard etc with hydrophobic
colourless chemical.
If rich finish is provided to external surface, such as grit plaster, it should be done in
panels of not more than 0.50 sq.m each. by providing grooves of 8-10mm in both
directions.
No concreting should be done at temperatures beyond 10oC to 30oC range.
Under burnt bricks absorb more water, thus permitting greater moisture movement
and shrinkage cracks. Such bricks should be sorted out and removed from the
stack.
If external finish is provided with sandstones, it should be coated with hydrophobic
chemicals that form a water repellant film.
Acrylic or PU based chemicals are preferred. The film will prevent the absorption of
water.
Thermal Movement:
Thermal movement is one of the most potent causes of cracking and call for serious
consideration.
It depends upon: temperature variation, dimensions, co-efficient of expansion,
colour, surface characteristic, thermal conductivity, insulation, internally generated
heat etc.
Internal walls do not suffer thermal movement appreciably. However external walls
and roof slab, undergo severe expansion and thus liable for cracking.
When concreting is done in summer at high temperature, contraction due to drop in
temperature in winter is high leading to thermal cracks.
When roof in a load bearing structure undergoes expansion, horizontal cracks occur
in cross walls.