Concrete can develop several types of cracks, each with distinct causes and characteristics. Some of the common types are:
- Plastic Shrinkage cracks occur when concrete is still plastic (before it hardens). This crack happens due to rapid water loss caused by high temperatures, wind, or low humidity.
- Drying Shrinkage cracks develop as concrete loses moisture and volume decreases. This crack happens due to the evaporation of water from hardened concrete.
- Thermal cracks appear due to temperature changes.
- Settlement cracks develop when there is uneven settlement of ground underneath the concrete.
- Structural cracks happen due to structural integrity issues.
- Crazing cracks happen due to rapid drying of the surface or improper finishing.
- Reinforcement corrosion cracks happen due to water, chlorides or carbon dioxide ingress.
- Expansion cracks occur due to concrete expansion.
- Alkali aggregate reaction cracks result from the chemical reaction between alkalis and reactive aggregates.
- Fatigue cracks occur due to repeated cycles of loading and unloading, causing cyclic stress.
Understanding the causes of cracks and ensuring mitigation plans to prevent them is essential.
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