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Cracks in concrete can not be prevented entirely, but they can be controlled
and minimized by properly designed joints.

Causes of Cracks in Concrete

 Concrete expands and shrinks due to temperature differences

 Settlement of structure
 Due to heavy load applied or
 Due to loss of water from concrete surface shrinkage occurs
 Insufficient vibration at the time of laying the concrete
 Improper cover provided during concreting
 High water cement ratio to make the concrete workable
 Due to corrosion of reinforcement steel
 Many mixtures with rapid setting and strength gain performance have an increased
shrinkage potential.

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How to Prevent Cracks in Concrete Structures?
1. Reduce Water Content in Concrete:
 A lower w/c ratio leads to high strength in concrete and lesser cracks. Shrinkage is the
main cause of cracks, when concrete hardens it evaporates the excess water and thus
shrinks, so lesser the water content, lesser is the shrinkage.

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2. Proper Concrete Mix Design and use of Quality Materials
 The concrete itself must be properly proportioned, and
properly mixed.
 Use good quality aggregates so will produce lower shrinkage
concrete.
 Use of sand which has lower silt content.
 Avoid the use of shrinkage-promoting admixtures (such as
accelerators, dirty aggregate which increases water demand.
 Using a cement with high shrinkage characteristics may
increase to develop cracks.

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3. Finishing of Concrete Surface
 Use proper finishing techniques
 Maintain proper timing during and between finishing operations.
 Flat floating and flat troweling are often recommended for RCC slab and raft.
 Avoid overworking the concrete, especially with vibrating screeds. Overworking causes
aggregate to settle and bleed water and excess fines to rise.
 Don’t finish the concrete when there is bleed water on the surface, finishing leads the
water back to concrete instead of evaporating thus leading to cracks.

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4. Proper Curing of Concrete
 Stop rapid loss of water from surface or drying of concrete due to hydration (liquid concrete converts
to plastic and then to solid state) causes drying of concrete, so it’s recommended to cure concrete for
at least 7 days.
 As soon as the concrete sets its general practice to make boundary with mortar on the slab and keep
it filled with water and other concrete body where it is not possible, cover with cotton mats soaked
with water or spray on a curing compound also prevents loss of water.
 The concrete should not be subjected to load during the curing period, which can last up to one
month.

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5. Proper Placement and Vibration of Concrete
 Properly placed, vibrated, finished concrete reduces the chances of producing cracks.
 Properly vibrate to release entrapped air which later leads to cracks.

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6. Proper Compaction of Soil to Prevent Settlement Cracks in Concrete
 It is recommended that any important structure should not be constructed over the
compacted soil.
 The area below the concrete base slab has to be compacted properly and in layers so as
to ensure against settlement of soil later. If the soil is left loose it will settle over time and
create cracks on surface. This applies in the home as well as constructions on highways.

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7. CRACKS DUE TO CARBONATION OF CONCRETE.

Especially in coastal area the carbonation of concrete allows humidity to reach to the
bars then corrosion will occur.

So must make cover of bars more than 4 cm and paint the concrete and improve the
mix.

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Providing Control Joints in Concrete
 Control joints should be located at regular intervals so as to adjust the shrinkage of
concrete. Generally, for 4-inch depth of slab joints are provided 8 to 12 ft. apart. Control
joints are pre-planted cracks.
 An engineer should have an idea that concrete will crack at control joints instead of
cracking any other location.

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Some Other Preventive Control Measures for Cracks in Concrete
 Applying good acrylic silicone sealer yearly to concrete works
 Avoid calcium chloride admixtures
 Prevent extreme changes in temperature.
 Consider using a shrinkage-reducing admixture
 Warm the subgrade before placing concrete on it during cold
weather
 Consider using synthetic fibers to help control plastic shrinkage
cracks.

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Movement Joints
A movement joint is intended to accommodate relative movement between adjoining pans of a
structure, special provisions being made to maintain the water-2 tightness of the joint. In elevated
structures where restraint is small, movement joints may not be required.
There are three categories of movement joints:
1. Contraction joint
A movement joint with a deliberate discontinuity but no initial gap between the concrete on either side
of the joint, the joint being intended to accommodate contraction of the concrete.
There are two types of contraction joints
a. Complete contraction joint (see Fig. IA)
While the complete contraction. joints are not restrained to movement and are intended to
accommodate only contraction of the concrete. In complete contraction joints both concrete
and reinforcing steel are interrupted
b. Partial contraction joint (see Fig. IB).
The partial contraction joints provide some restraint but are intended to accommodate some
contraction of concrete. In partial contraction joints only the concrete is interrupted, the reinforcing
steel running through.
A water bar shall be provided either centrally in a wall(see Fig. )A) or on the soffit of a floor. To cater for
shear across the face a shear key may be provided. In a partial contraction joint, a water bar may be
provided, if necessary, preferably centrally in la wall or on the soffit of a floor. These figures show some
of the typical joints and other available joint details may also be used.

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2) Expansion joint
A movement joint which has no restraint to movement and is intended to accommodate
either expansion or contraction of the concrete. This has complete discontinuity in both
reinforcement and concrete (see Fig. 2).
An expansion type water bar shall be provided either centrally in a wall (see Fig. 2A) or on
the soffit of a floor. A center-bulb water bar may be used in walls. In general, such a joint
requires the provision of an initial gap between the adjoining parts of a structure which by
closing or opening accommodates the expansion or contraction of the structure. Design of
the joint so as to incorporate sliding surface, is not, however, precluded and may some
times be advantageous

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3) Sliding joint —

A movement joint with

complete discontinuity in both
reinforcement and concrete at
which special provision is made
to facilitate relative movement
in place of the joint. A typical
application is between wall and
floor in some cylindrical tank
designs ( see Fig. 3 ).

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b) Construction Joint —
A joint in the concrete introduced for
convenience in construction at which
special measures are taken to achieve
subsequent continuity without provision
for further relative movement, is called a
construction joint. A typical application is
between successive lifts in a reservoir
wall ( see Fig. 4 ).

The position and arrangement of all

construction joints should be
predetermined by the engineer.
Consideration should be given to limiting
the number of such joints and to keeping
them free from possibility of percolations
in a similar manner to contraction joints.

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Temporary Open Joints —
A gap temporarily left between the
concrete of adjoining parts of a
structure which after a suitable interval
and before the structure is put into use,
is filled with mortar or concrete either
completely ( Fig. 5A ) or as provided
below, with the inclusion of suitable
jointing materials (Fig. 5B and 5C).
In the former case the width of the gap
should be sufficient to allow the sides
to be prepared before filling. Where
measures are taken for example, by the
inclusion of suitable jointing materials
to maintain the water tightness of the
concrete subsequent to the filling of
the joint, this type of joint may be
regarded as being equivalent to a
contraction joint (partial or complete)
as defined above.
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Material Properties of Movement Joint

1) it should not suffer permanent distortion or extrusion and should not be displaced

by fluid pressure.

2) It should not slump unduly in hot weather or become brittle in cold weather.

3) It should be insoluble and durable and should not be affected by exposure to light

or by evaporation of solvent or plasticizers.

4) In special cases, the materials should be non-toxic, taintless or resistant to

chemical and biological action as may be specified.

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Spacing of Joints
a) In reinforcement concrete floors, movement joints should be spaced at not more than
7.5 m apart in two directions at right angles. The wall and floor joints should be in line
in normal condition.
b) For floors with only nominal percentage of reinforcement (smaller than the minimum
specified), the concrete floor should be cast in panels with sides not more than 4.5 m.
c) In concrete walls, the vertical movement joints should normally be placed at a
maximum spacing of 7.5 m in reinforced walls and 6 m in unreinforced walls. coefficient
of friction.
d) Expansion joints should normally be provided at a spacing of not more than 30 m
Where restraint is less up-to 45m may be extended for joints.

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Summery
Concrete cracks
It can be controlled and in some cases eliminated
with proper design
But cracking provides a life-time annuity for many
of you!
It is very important to determine the cause of
cracking before repairs are made

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