See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/277715230

Study of Cracks in Buildings

Thesis · January 2009

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2485.5201

CITATIONS READS
0 64,490

4 authors, including:

Sri Kalyana Rama J

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad
26 PUBLICATIONS   8 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Fracture properties of concrete using modified damaged plasticity model View project

Comparative Study on the Lateral Load Resistance of Multi-Storied Structure with Bracing Systems View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Sri Kalyana Rama J on 05 June 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 STUDY OF CRACKS IN
BUILDINGS
V R SIDDHARTHA ENGG COLLEGE
(AUTONOMOUS )
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

TERM PAPER

Presented By

J S KALYANA RAMA
V R RAGHAVA SUDHIR

V SAMPATH KUMAR

V VICKRANTH

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

V.RAMESH
INTRODUCTION • Long Term Drying Shrinkage Cracking
• Seasonal Thermal Contraction
Cracks in a building are of common
Cracking
occurrence. A building component
develops cracks whenever stress in the CAUSES OF OCCURRENCE
component exceeds its strength. Cracks
a) moisture changes
are classified in to structural and non
b) thermal variations
structural categories. The structural ones
c) elastic deformations
are due to faulty design, faulty
d) creep
construction or overloading which may
e) foundation movement and settlement
endanger safety of buildings. The non
of soil
structural cracks are due to internally
induced stresses. Depending on width of a) Moisture movement
crack, these are classified in to thin (< Most of the building materials having
1mm), medium (1mm to 2mm) and wide pores in their structure in the form of
(> 2mm wide). Internally induced intermolecular (ex concrete, mortar,
stresses in building components lead to bricks etc) expand on absorbing
dimensional changes and whenever moisture and shrink on drying. These
there is a restraint to movement as is movements are reversible. Initial
generally the case cracking occurs. shrinkage is partly irreversible and
occurs in all building materials which
There are numerous causes of cracking
are cement/lime based e.g. concrete,
in concrete, but most instances are
mortar, masonry etc. Some of the
related more to concrete specification
building materials absorb moisture from
and construction practices than by
environment and undergo gradual
stresses due to induced forces.
expansion (Initial expansion), bulk of
The four primary causes of cracking that
which is irreversible. For the bricks, this
the designer can help to prevent are:
entire expansion takes place in first 3
• Flexural Cracking
months once they are removed from
• Early Thermal Contraction Cracking
kilns. Cracks due to shrinkage affect
mainly the appearance and finish and the thermal movement could be
structural stability is not impaired. These distinguished from those due to
cracks generally get localized near door shrinkage or other causes from the
and window openings or stair case walls. criterion that the former open and close
In external walls they run downward alternately with changes in temperature
from window sill to plinth level or to the while the latter are not affected by such
lintel of lower story. changes.
Thermal movement depends on Colour
and Surface Characteristics of exposed
buding surfaces. Dark coloured and
rough textured materials have lower
reflectivity and hence rise in temperature
is more for these surfaces. In case of
concrete roof slabs, as the material has
low conductivity, thermal gradient is
quite appreciable and that causes the slab
to arch up and also to move outward due
to heat from the sun. This results in
cracks in external walls which support
the slab and in the internal walls that are
built up to the soffit of the slab. In case
of framed-structures, roof slab, beams
b) Thermal movement and columns move jointly causing
Due to variation in atmospheric diagonal cracks in walls which are
temperature, there will be thermal located parallel to the movement, and
movement in building horizontal cracks below beams in walls
components. When there is some which are at right angle to the
restraint to movement of building movement.
component, internal stresses are
generated resulting in cracks due to
tensile or shear stresses. Cracks due to
 c) Elastic deformations
Structural components of a building such
as walls, columns, beams and slabs,
generally
consisting of materials like masonry,
Cracking in Top Most Storey of a concrete, steel etc, undergo elastic
Load Bearing Strucrure deformation due to load in accordance
with Hook's law, the amount of
deformation depending upon elastic
modulus of the materials, magnitude of
loading and dimensions of the
components.
If RCC slabs, RCC lintels over openings
and masonry in plinth and foundation
have good shear resistance, cracking in
question would not be very significant.

Expansion Joints in Slabs Supported

on Twin Walls
 stress/strength ratio and, therefore, creep
in brickwork with weak mortar, which
generally has higher stress/strength ratio,
is more. Another reason for greater creep
in case of brickwork with weak mortar is
that weak mortar has greater viscous
flow than a strong mortar.
In brick work, creep may cease after 4
months while in concrete it may
continue up to about a year or so.
However, in concrete, extent of creep is
related to the process of hardening and
thus most of the creep takes place in the
first month and after that its pace slows
down. That means creep strain can be
reduced by deferring removal of
Vertical Cracks and
centering and application of external
Diagonal Cracks
load.
d) Movements due to creep
In concrete, extent of creep depends on a
number of factors, such as water and
cement content, water cement ratio,
temperature, humidity, use of admixtures
and pozzolanas, age of concrete at the
time of loading and size and shape of the
component. Creep increases with
increase in water and cement content,
water cement ratio, and temperature; it
decreases with increase in humidity of
the surrounding atmosphere and age of
material at the time of loading. In case of
brickwork, amount of creep depends on
e) Foundation movement and TYPES OF CRACKS
settlement of soil
Shear cracks in buildings occur when
Wall: External wall of load bearing
there is large differential settlement of
structures
foundation either due to unequal bearing
i) Vertical cracks in the sidewalls at the
pressure under different parts of the
corners of building.
structure or due to bearing pressure on
Cracks start from DPC level and travels
soil being in excess of safe bearing
upwards are more or less straight and
strength of the soil or due to low factor
pass through masonry units and there is
of safety in the design of foundation.
difference in the level on the two sides
of cracks.
They are due to thermal expansion
sometime aggravated by moisture
expansion of bricks work.
ii) Vertical cracks near the quoins in the
front elevation of long building having
Cracks at the Corner of a Building
short return walls.
Due to Foundation Settlement.
These start upwards from DPC level and
are due thermal expansion and occur
DIAGNOSIS
when adequate provision from the
For Diagnosis, the following information
moment joints has not been made. The
is to be collected and studied.
short return wall rotates due to thrust at
(i) Location, Shape, Size, Depth,
two ends from the long walls this
Behavior and other characteristics
resulting in vertical cracks. If length of
(i) Specification of job
return wall is more than 600mm, this can
(ii) Time of construction
be avoided.
(iii) Past history
iii) Vertical cracks in the top most
(iv)When the cracks first came to notice
stories at corners of a building having
(v) Whether the cracks are active or
RCC roof
static
It is due to shrinkage of RCC roof slab
on initial drying, as well as thermal
construction, which exerts an inward
pull on the walls in both directions. This
is because bending in walls in portions
always from corner, causes verticals
cracks about one unit always
from corners.
iv ) Vertical Cracks below opening in
line with window joints .
These are due to vertical sheer caused by
differential strain in the lightly loaded
masonry
below the opening and heavily loaded
portion of wall having no openings.
Avoid large windows.
(v) Vertical cracks around staircase
opening and around balconies
Due to drying shrinkage and thermal
moveme3nt in the building because of
weakening of
in the wall as well as floor section most
very conscious.
(vi) Horizontal cracks in the top most
storey below slab level .
These are due to deflection of slab and
lifting up of edge of slab, combined with
horizontal movement in the slab due to
shrinkage . Because of light vertical load
on the wall due to which, end of slab
lifts up without much restraint.
Span to be small insulation protective
covering to be provided, slab should be
slightly shorter or longer.
(vii) Horizontal cracks in the top most
stories, the cracks being above the slab
when seen from outside and below the
slab when seen from inside.
These occur due to temperature variation
accompanied by bowing up of slab due
to thermal gradient in slab. provide
Inside week mortar outside mastic
compared after cleaning etc. reflective
cover on top. If rich mix is used, cracks
recur.
(viii) Horizontal cracks at windows lintel
or sill levels in the top most stories.
Due to pull exerted by slab on the wall
because of drying shrinkage and thermal
contraction pull result in bending of wall
which causes cracking at a week section
i.e. lintel level. They can be avoided by
providing slip joints at slab supports on
the wall and by providing smaller
windows.
(ix) Horizontal cracks in the top most
story of a building at the corners.
Due to vertical lifting of slab corners due
to deflection in the slab both directions.
Can be avoided by providing adequate
corner reinforcement. This ours only in
the top
stress because less load.
(x) Horizontal crocks @ eaves level in
buildings having pitched roofs with
woods trusses
It is due to outward thrust from the roof
truss because of w weakening of
structured timber due to dry rot or fungal
attack. Can be avoided by replacing roof
with some lighter material ,going
treatment to wood work, by providing
steel ties between external walls of
timber is deteriorated to be replaced after
masonry is rebuild .
(xi) Diagonal cracks across the corner of
a building affecting two adjacent wall.
These occur due to drying shrinkage of
foundation soil when built on shrinkable
clay soil and has shallow foundation fast
growing trees near the building
accentuate the problem by process of
dehydration of soil. Wider at top and
become narrow as they travel downward.
Pass Though DPC and extend to
foundation
Remedy:- (i)To be filled with epoxy type
material
(ii) Provide 2m wide flexible water tight
apron all round t he building at a depth
of 0.50 mt below GL. work to be carried
out after 1 or 2 months after monsoon
External and Internal walls of load
bearing Structures
(i) Vertical cracks in walls built with
concrete blocks of send line bricks
Cracks occur at week sections, ie. at mid
point of openings or at regular internals
in long stretches . Depending upon the
strength of mortar, cracks may be
straight or stepped.
They appear within weeks of
construction and increase in width over a
period of one or
two years. They get widening during
cold weather there are due to drying
shrinkage of
masonry units and more conspicuous
when reach mortar is used.
(ii) Vertical cracks at the junction of a
old portion of building and new
extension.
These are due to compaction of soil
under load of newly built portion of
building
(iii) Vertical cracks at the junction of
RCC columns and masonry .
They are due to differential strain
between RCC and masonry because of
elastic
deformation. Shrinkage and creep in
RCC column. This and could be filled in
at the time of renewal of finishing coat.
(iv) Horizontal cracks in mortar joints
appearing two or three years after
construction . These are due to sulphate
attack. These cracks would be
accompanied by weakening of
mortar. No remedy is available expect to
do replastering with sulphate resisting
cement.
.(v) Ripping cracks occurring at the
ceiling level in cross walls .
These are due to relative movement
between RCC roof slab and cross wall.
Movement of RCC slab being due to
thermal expansion and construction
because of inadequate
thermal insulation /cover on roof slab.
(vi) Diagonal cracks in cross wall of a
multi storied load bearing structures .
They are due to differential strain in
internal and external load bearing walls
to which
cross walls are bonded.
(vii) Diagonal cracks accompanied by
outward tilting of external walls. Internal
walls under going random cracking and
floors cracking up and becoming
uneven.
Due to moisture movement of shrinkage
soil (B.C. Soil), when the foundation is
shallow.
In dry weather the soil shrinks and
external walls settle down as well as
tend to tilt outwards. In rains soil swells
up and the movement reversed but
cracks once formed do not fully close.
The floor haves up and become
unshapely.
viii) Diagonal cracks over RCC lintels
spanning large openings. They start from
ends of lintels traveling upwards in
masonry away from opening. They are
due to drying shrinkage of in -site RCC
lintels and are observed in first dry spell
after completion of building.When pre
cast lintels are used no such cracks will
be formed.
Partition walls in load bearing
structures.
2) Partition walls supported on RCC slab
or beam if wall is build tightly upto the
soffit of top beam / slab, these types of
cracks appear.
3) Partition walls built of concrete
blocks Cracks are vertical and are at
junctions with the load bearing walls and
at intermediate places when partition is
long. If wall is comparatively tall,
horizontal cracks may be develop at mid
height portion. They are due to drying
shrinkage.
PREVENTION OF CRACKS
1. To prevent Shrinkage/ expansion
cracks Planning & Design stage
฀ Select materials having small moisture
movement eg bricks, lime stones, marble
etc
฀ Plan for less richer cement content,
larger size of aggregates and less water
content
฀ Porus aggregates (from sand stone,
clinker etc) prone for high shrinkage
฀ Plan for offsets in walls for length o f
more than 600 mm
฀ Use of of composite cement-lime
mortar of 1:1:6 mix or weaker for
plastering work
฀ Plan for proper expansion/control/slip
joints
Construction stage
฀ For brick work 2weeks time in
summer and 3 weeks time in winter
should be allowed before using from the
date of removal from kilns
฀ Delay plastering work till masonry
dried after proper curing
฀ Proper curing immediately on initial
setting brings down drying shrinkage
2. To prevent cracks due to Thermal
movement Planning & Design stage
฀ Dark coloured and rough texured
materials on exteriors have lower
reflectitivity and
react more for thermal expansions
฀ Plan for a layer of adequate thickness
of good reflective surface over concrete
roof slabs to minimize these cracks
฀ slip joint should be introduced
between slab and its supporting wall or
the some length from the supporting wall
or the slab should bear only on part
width of the wall
฀ Mortar for parapet masonry should be
1 cement: 1 lime: 6 sand
construction stage
฀ Construction of masonry over the slab
should be deferred as much as possible
(at least
one month) so that concrete undergoes
some drying shrinkage prior to the
construction of parapet.
฀ Good bond should be ensured
between parapet masonry and concrete
slab
฀ The bearing portion of the wall is
rendered smooth with plaster, allowed to
set and partly dry, and then given a thick
coat of whitewash before casting the slab
so that there is a minimum bond between
the slab and the support. To ensure more
efficient functioning of this joint, in
place of whitewashing 2 or 3 layers of
tarred paper
are placed over the plastered surface to
allow for easy sliding between RCC slab
and the supporting masonry
฀ To avoid cracks near door frames
ptovide groove as shown in Fig.11
3. To prevent cracks due to Elastic
deformations Planning & Design stage
฀ When large spans cannot be avoided,
deflection of slabs or beams could be
reduced by increasing depth of slabs and
beams so as to increase their stiffness.
Adoption of bearing
arrangement and provision of a groove
in plaster at the junction of wall and
ceiling will be of some help in
mitigating the cracks.
Construction stage
฀ allow adequate time lag between work
of wall masonry and fixing of tiles.
4. To prevenr cracks due to Creep
Construction stage
฀ Do not provide brickwork over a
flexural RCC member (beam or slab)
before removal
of centering and allow a time interval of
at least 2 weeks between removal of
centering and construction of partition or
panel wall over it.
฀ When brick masonry is to be laid
abutting an RCC column, defer
brickwork as much as possible.
฀ When RCC and brickwork occur in
combination and are to be plastered
over, allow sufficient time (at least one
month) to RCC and brickwork to
undergo initial shrinkage
and creep before taking up plaster work.
฀ A panel walls in RCC framed
structures: i) as far as possible, all frame-
work should be completed before taking
up masonry work of cladding and
partitions which should be
started from top storey downward. ii)
Provide horizontal movement joint
between the
top of brick panel and soffit of beams.
฀ Partitions supported on floor slab or
beam: i) Provide upward camber in floor
slab/beam so as to counteract deflection.
ii) Defer construction of partitions and
plaster work as much as possible iii)
Provide horizontal expansion joints
between the top of masonry and soffit of
beam/slab, filling the gaps with some
mastic compound.
5. To prevent cracks due to Chemical
reaction Planning & design stage
฀ For structural concrete in foundation,
if sulphate content in soil exceeds 0.2
per cent or in groundwater exceeds 300 ฀ for filling deep - say exceeding 1.0m.,
ppm, use very dense concrete and either Soil used for filling should be free from
increase richness of mix to 1:1 1/2:3 or organic matter, brick-bats and debris
use sulphate resisting Portland filling should be done in layers not
cement/super-sulphated cement or exceeding 25 cm in thickness and each
adopt a combination of the two methods layer should be watered and well
depending upon the sulphate content of rammed.
the soil. ฀ If filling is more than 1 metre in
฀ cracking caused in concrete due to depth, process of flooding and
carbonation can be avoided or compaction should be carried out after
minimized by ensuing use of Exposed every metre of fill.
concrete items in thin sections, such as CRACK STITCHING
sunshades, fins and louvers of buildings,
are with concrete of richer mix (say 1:1 Following steps are to be followed for
1/2:3) crack stitching
6. To prevent cracks due to Soil
settlement Planning & design stage
฀ plan for under-reamed piles in
foundation for construction on
shrinkable soils
฀ plan for plinth protection around the 1
building
฀ slip / expansion joints to ensure that
new construction is not bonded with the
old construction and the two parts (Old
and new) are separated right from
bottom to the top. When plastering the 2
new work a deep groove should be
formed separating the new work from
the old.
Construction stage
 STEP 1: Clean the crack

STEP 2: Rake the joints across the

cracks in a length of 600mm as deep as
conveniently and safely possible without
disturbing the stones

3
STEP 3: Clean the joints at least 300mm
on each side of the crack.

STEP 4: Clean everything with wire

brush, and remove dust.

STEP 5: Fill the cracks and raked joints

with 1:6 cement sand or 1:3 lime sand
4 mortar.

STEP 6: Sprinkle water on the cement

mortar for a minimum of 7 days.

STEP 7: The wall will then become

strong again and this repaired area will
not act as a weak point in the wall for
5
future earthquakes.

7
 REFERENCES

www.iitk.ac.in

SP 25: “HANDBOOK ON CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF CRACKS IN

BUILDINGS”

IS 2911(3): “CODE OF PRACTICE FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF

PILE FOUNDATIONS

PART III UNDER REAMED PILES”

MASONRY, MATERIALS, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE

BY HARRY A. HARRIS, ASTM COMMITTEE

View publication stats