Which Are Various Reasons of

Cracks in Buildings?
Cracks can occur due to chemical reactions in construction materials, changes in temperature
and climate, foundation movements and settling of buildings, environmental stresses like nearby
trains, earth quakes etc. Faulty design, bad quality materials, wrong method of construction,
weather effects and lots of wear and tear can create cracks in walls, floors and ceilings. Here are
given various reasons of cracks and their prevention techniques.

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Elastic Deformation
When the walls are unevenly loaded, due to variation in stresses in different parts of wall the
cracks are formed in walls. When two materials having wide different elastic properties are built
together under the effect of load, different shear stresses in these materials create cracks at the
junction. Dead and live loads cause elastic deformation in structural components of a building.

Prevention
Create slip joints under the support of RCC slab on walls. Masonry work on RCC slabs and
beams should not be started before drying RCC slab and beam. Provide horizontal movement
joints between the top of brick panel and RCC beam/slab.

Thermal Movement
All materials expand on heat and contract on cool. Thermal movement in components of
structure creates cracks due to tensile of shear stresses. It is one of the most potent causes of
cracking in buildings and needs attention.

Prevention
Construct joints such as construction joints, expansion joints, control joints and slip joints. The
joints should be planned at the time of design and be constructed carefully.

Chemical Reaction
Chemical reactions in building materials increase their volume and internal stress causes cracks.
The components of structure also weaken due to chemical reactions. Some common instances
of chemical reactions are following.

Sulphate attack on cement products

Carbonation in cement based materials

Corrosion of reinforcement in concrete

Alkali aggregate reaction

Prevention
Use dense and good quality concrete i.e. richer mix of cement concrete 1:1.5:3 to prevent cracks.
Repair corrosive cement concrete surface by guniting/ injecting technique after removing all
loose and damaged concrete and cleaning reinforcement from all rust also.

Shrinkage
Most building materials expend when they absorb moisture from atmosphere and shrink when
they are dry. Cement made materials shrink due to drying up of the moisture used in their
construction. The factors causing shrinkage in cement concrete and cement mortar and their
preventions are following.

1. Excessive Water
The quantity of water used in the mortar mix can cause shrinkage. Vibrated concrete has
less quantity of water and lesser shrinkage than manually compacted concrete.

Prevention

Use minimum quantity of water required for mixing cement concrete or cements mortar
according to water cement ratio. Never allow cement concrete work without mechanical
mix and vibrator.

2. Quantity of Cement
As a general rule, the richer the mix is, the greater the shrinkage/drying will be.

Prevention

Do not use excessive cement in the mortar mix.

Un-graded Aggregate
Aggregate can cause shrinkage also. If un-graded and fine material/aggregate is used in cement
concrete and cement mortar which requires more water and can cause greater shrinkage.

Prevention
Use largest possible aggregate and ensure good grading of materials. The use of water
according to required workability has less shrinkage because of reduction in the porosity of
hardened concrete.

Curing
After laying cement concrete mix, the hardening of cement takes place, causes reduction in
moisture and creates shrinkage. This causes cracks in concrete work.

Prevention
Proper curing should be started as soon as initial setting has taken place and be continued for at
least seven to ten days. When hardening of concrete takes place under moist environment, the
shrinkage due to drying is comparatively less.

Excessive Fine materials

Fine materials take more surface area and require more water for mix. The use of excessive fine
materials i.e. silts; clay and dust in aggregate create more shrinkage.

Prevention
Do not use fine materials containing silt, clay and dust. Use coarse sand/fine aggregate in
cement concrete and cement mortar mix which has silt and clay less than 4%. Use coarse
aggregate and fine aggregate after washing to reduce silt contents.

Foundation Movement and Settlement of Soil

Shear cracks occur in buildings when there is large differential settlement of foundation due to
any of following causes.

Unequal bearing pressure under different parts of the structure

Bearing pressure being in excess of safe bearing strength of the soil

Low factor of safety in the design of foundations

Local variation in the nature of supporting soil

Prevention
The design of foundation must be based on sound engineering principles and good practice.

Earth Quake
Crack may occur due to sudden shift in lower layer of the earth. The voids in the earth might have
suddenly collapsed and be filled with soil from the above. Many geological events can trigger
earth movements but is continuous movement. This results in cracks.
Prevention
Construct the foundation of buildings on firm ground while doing construction. Tie up the building
with connecting beams at foundation level, door level and roof level.

Vegetation
The roots of trees located in the vicinity of a wall can create cracks in walls due to growth of roots
under foundation. The cracks occur in clay soil due to moisture contained by roots.

Prevention
Do not let trees grow too close to the buildings, compound walls etc. Remove any saplings of
trees as soon as possible if they start growing in or near of walls etc.