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Cracks in Buildings

Cracks in buildings can arise from various forces exceeding the structural capacity, often due to external or internal factors, or material changes. Major causes include ground movements, overloading, and the effects of gases, liquids, and temperature changes. While some cracks are superficial and easily repaired, significant cracks may indicate structural issues that require attention.

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6 views

Cracks in Buildings

Cracks in buildings can arise from various forces exceeding the structural capacity, often due to external or internal factors, or material changes. Major causes include ground movements, overloading, and the effects of gases, liquids, and temperature changes. While some cracks are superficial and easily repaired, significant cracks may indicate structural issues that require attention.

Uploaded by

36M Shresta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cracks in Buildings

Cracks result in applied forces greater than those which the building or its part can withstand. These

forces may have emerged externally to the building or internally within the building or have been

developed in the materials of the building as a result of Chemical changes. There may be a single force

or a combination of forces having a single cause or several causes.

Building at San Francisco

This is a residential building at San Francisco. Major cracks have developed on the external facade of

the building. The cracks running across the entire facade of the building are diagonally directed and

diagonal cracks are generally structural cracks. They occur due to structural problems in the buildings.

Structural cracks could be due to major or minor problem in the structural design. Intensity of

structural problem is determined on the basis of the intensity of cracks developed.

Most cracks occur due to drying of construction water.

• These are generally superficial

• Do not affect the serviceability of the building

• Can be easily repaired

If cracks are more significant, repair work may be repeated periodically.


Structural significance of the cracks tends to be exaggerated by a natural reaction of the owner.

Many cracks do not have any effect on the stability of structure, because of “high factor of safety”.

Cracking has adverse effects on appearance. Sometimes several cracks go unnoticed for years which

affect the performance of the structure.

Rain penetration through a crack depends on:

1. Construction of a building

2. Degree of exposure

3. Capillarity of fine cracks

4. Wind driven rain penetration through wide cracks

Major Causes of Cracks occurring in Buildings

1. Movements of the ground

2. Overloading

3. Effect of gases, liquids and solids

4. Effect of changes in the temperature

5. General (e.g., Vibrations)

In our next article, we will discuss in detail the major causes of cracks in Buildings.

Causes of cracks in Buildings


In the previous article, we discussed the occurrence of cracks in buildings due to climatic factors and

cracks occurred due to problem at the time of construction of the building. These fall under the

category of Minor causes of Cracks in Buildings.

Now we will go ahead with our discussion on “Major causes of Cracks in a Building”.
Major causes of cracks in a building

1. Movements of the ground

2. Over loading

3. Effect of gases, liquids and solids

4. Effect of changes of temperature

5. General causes such as vibrations etc

Unrestrained Movement of Building Materials

Movements of the ground


Mining subsidence, land slips, earthquakes, moisture changes due to clay shrinkable soils (for

example, Black cotton soil).

Cracks occur because a part of the building is displaced from the rest without any change in the actual

size of the material.

Overloading

• Overloading of the ground

• Overloading of the building itself

• Overloading of the building parts result in cracks

For example; Cracks under a floor due to overloading of slab.


Overloading forced may be due to

1. External (excessive wind/snow loads)

2. Internal (from heavy machinery etc.)

Effect of Gases, Liquids and Solids


Gases

• Only gas likely to produce cracks is carbon dioxide (CO2).

• Causes carbonation of porous cement products

• Leads into an overall shrinkage showing crazing cracks

Liquids

• Water is the most commonly used liquid when not taken care of can prove hazardous for the

structures.

• Construction water i.e., that is utilization of water during the construction process

• Water in the usage of the building

Effects of water

1. Physical (i.e. due to change in water content)

2. Chemical (directly or indirectly affecting other materials)

For example, Volumetric increase due to chemical changes or Steel corrosion, sulphate attack with

water.

Solids

Soluble sulphates are most common and are found in various materials and soil.

They are a great cause of concern. They attack the cement products which in turn result in the

deterioration of the structure.


Effect of changes in Temperature
Various building materials are used for the construction of a building and all the materials have

different coefficient of expansion. Due to changes in the temperature, the expansion and contraction

of the building components takes place which result in the changes in the size and shape of the

components.

Smaller buildings are less affected.

In larger buildings, the change in size of one part causes cracks although not in expanded part.

For example; Crack below the slab/beam in RCC frame Brick pin buildings. These cracks can close up

completely as a result of changes of temperature.

General Vibrations
Vibrations cause cracks in buildings only when their amplitude of vibrations is high.

Apart from vibrations caused due to earthquakes, the vibrations caused due to heavy machinery,

traffic, sonic booms are also responsible for the occurrence of cracks in buildings.

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