A SEMINAR REPORT

on
CRACKS IN BUILDINGS

SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT

FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE
OF

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING

IN

CIVIL ENGIEERING

YOGANANDA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Affiliated to University of Jammu, Recognized by AICTE, New Delhi,

G.O. I

SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:

PRANAV VERMA Er. RAJNISH MAGOTRA

B.E SEMESTER 7TH HOD (CIVIL ENGG.)

ROLL NO: Er. SHIVAM SHARMA

37(191506037) (ASSISTANT PROFESSOR)

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I express my deep sense of gratitude to my seminar supervisors

Er. Rajnish Magotra (H.O.D Civil Engg.) and Er. Shivam Sharma (Assistant
Professor) for their motivation and guidance throughout the preparation and
delivery of seminar. I am very thankful to friends and all other persons who
have rendered their invaluable assistance directly or indirectly in the completion
of seminar report. Last but not least, I would like to thank the Teaching Staff of
Civil Engineering Department and, I would like to thank one and all who have
helped me during the course of seminar.

PRANAV VERMA
B.E SEMESTER 7TH
ROLL NO: 37(191506037)
 ABSTRACT

Cracks in a building are of common occurrence. A building component

develops cracks whenever stress in the component exceeds its strength. Cracks
are classified in to structural and non-structural categories. The structural ones
are due to faulty design, faulty construction or overloading which may endanger
safety of buildings. The non-structural cracks are due to internally induced
stresses. Depending on width of crack, these are classified in to thin (< 1mm),
medium (1mm to 2mm) and wide (> 2mm wide). Internally induced stresses in
building components lead to dimensional changes and whenever there is a
restraint to movement as is generally the case cracking occurs. There are
numerous causes of cracking in concrete, but most instances are related more to
concrete specification and construction practices than by stresses due to induced
forces.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

S No TOPIC PAGE NO

1 INTRODUCTION 5

2 CAUSES OF OCCURRENCE OF 6-8

CRACKS
3 DIAGNOSIS 8

4 INVESTIGATION RELATED TO 8-9

CRACKS
5 TYPES OF CRACKS 9-12

6 PREVENTION 12-15

7 CRACK STICHING 15

8 DAMAGES 16

9 TECHNIQUES TO CURE 16-18

CRACKS
INTRODUCTION

Cracks in a building are of common occurrence. A building component

develops cracks whenever stress in the component exceeds its strength. Cracks
are classified in to structural and non-structural categories. The structural ones
are due to faulty design, faulty construction or overloading which may endanger
safety of buildings. The non-structural cracks are due to internally induced
stresses. Depending on width of crack, these are classified in to thin (< 1mm),
medium (1mm to 2mm) and wide (> 2mm wide).
Internally induced stresses in building components lead to dimensional changes
and whenever there is a restraint to movement as is generally the case cracking
occurs. There are numerous causes of cracking in concrete, but most instances
are related more to concrete specification and construction practices than by
stresses due to induced forces.
The four primary causes of cracking that the designer can help to prevent are:
• Flexural Cracking
• Early Thermal Contraction Cracking
• Long-Term Drying Shrinkage Cracking
• Seasonal Thermal Contraction Cracking

CAUSES OF OCCURRENCE
a) moisture changes
b) thermal variations
c) elastic deformations
d) creep
e) foundation movement and settlement of soil
a. MOISTURE CHANGES
Most of the building materials having pores in their structure in the form of
intermolecular (ex concrete, mortar, bricks etc) expand on absorbing moisture
and shrink on drying. These movements are reversible. Initial shrinkage is
partly irreversible and occurs in all building materials which are cement/lime
based e.g., concrete, mortar, masonry etc. Some of the building materials absorb
moisture from environment and undergo gradual expansion (Initial expansion),
bulk of which is irreversible. For the bricks, this entire expansion takes place in
first 3 months once they are removed from kilns. Cracks due to shrinkage affect
mainly the appearance and finish and the structural stability is not impaired.
These cracks generally get localized near door and window openings or stair
case walls. In external walls they run downward from window sill to plinth level
or to the lintel of lower story.
b. THERMAL MOVEMENT
Due to variation in atmospheric temperature, there will be thermal movement
in building components. When there is some restraint to movement of building
component, internal stresses are generated resulting in cracks due to tensile or
shear stresses. Cracks due to thermal movement could be distinguished from
those due to shrinkage or other causes from the criterion that the former open
and close alternately with changes in temperature while the latter are not
affected by such changes. Thermal movement depends on Colour and Surface
Characteristics of exposed budging 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 and columns
move jointly causing diagonal cracks in walls which are located parallel to the
movement, and horizontal cracks below beams in walls which are at right angle
to the movement.
c) ELASTIC DEFORMATIONS
 Structural components of a building such as walls, columns, beams and slabs,
generally consisting of materials like masonry, concrete, steel etc, undergo
elastic 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. Vertical Cracks and
Diagonal Cracks
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 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 centring and application of external load.
e) FOUNDATION MOVEMENT AND SETTLEMENT OF SOIL
Shear cracks in buildings occur when there is large differential settlement of
foundation either due to unequal bearing pressure under different parts of the
structure or due to bearing pressure on soil being in excess of safe bearing
strength of the soil or due to low factor of safety in the design of foundation.
DIAGNOSIS
For Diagnosis, the following information is to be collected and studied.
(I) Location, Shape, Size, Depth, Behaviour and other characteristics
(II) Specification of job
(II) Time of construction
(IV) Past history
(V)When the cracks first came to notice
(VI) Whether the cracks are active or static

INVESTIGATION RELATED TO CRACKS

● Whether the crack is old or new

● Pattern of crack
● Soil condition, type of foundation used
● Movement of ground
● Observation on a similar structure
 ● Study of specification, construction method and climatic conditions

Measuring magnifier and Lomaro microscope

TYPES OF CRACKS
Wall: External wall of load bearing structures
i) Vertical cracks in the sidewalls at the corners of building.
Cracks start from DPC level and travels upwards are more or less straight and
pass through masonry units and there is 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
short return walls. These start upwards from DPC level and are due thermal
expansion and occur when adequate provision from the moment joints has not
been made. The short return wall rotates due to thrust at two ends from the long
walls this resulting in vertical cracks. If length of return wall is more than
600mm, this can be avoided.
iii) Vertical cracks in the top most stories at corners of a building having RCC
roof 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
walls. 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.
Remedy: -
(i)To be filled with epoxy type material
(ii) Provide 2m wide flexible water tight apron all-round the 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, i.e., at mid-point of openings or at regular intervals 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 an 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 undergoing 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 built tightly up to
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 developed 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 e.g., bricks, lime stones,
marble etc
Plan for less richer cement content, larger size of aggregates and less water
content
Porous aggregates (from sand stone, clinker etc) prone for high shrinkage
Plan for offsets in walls for length of more than 600 mm
Use 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 textured materials on exteriors have lower reflectivity
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 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, provide groove.
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 prevent cracks due to Creep Construction stage
Do not provide brickwork over a flexural RCC member (beam or slab) before
removal of centring and allow a time interval of at least 2 weeks between
removal of centring 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 framework 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 ppm, use very dense concrete and either
increase richness of mix to 1:1 1/2:3 or use sulphate resisting Portland
cement/super-sulphated cement or adopt a combination of the two methods
depending upon the sulphate content of the soil.
cracking caused in concrete due to carbonation can be avoided or minimized by
ensuing use of Exposed concrete items in thin sections, such as sunshades, fins
and louvers of buildings, are with concrete of richer mix (say 1:1 1/2:3)
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 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 new work, a deep groove should be
formed separating the new work from the old.

Construction stage
for filling deep - say exceeding 1.0m., Soil used for filling should be free from
organic matter, brick-bats and debris filling should be done in layers not
exceeding 25 cm in thickness and each layer should be watered and well
rammed.
If filling is more than 1 metre in depth, process of flooding and compaction
should be carried out after every metre of fill.

CRACK STITCHING
Following steps are to be followed for crack stitching
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.
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
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 future earthquakes.

DAMAGES DUE TO CRACKS

● Cracks speed up the carbonation around the cracks, thus shortening the
structure usage.
 ● Cracks can cause leakage, which reduces the stiffness, durability and
seismic performance of buildings.
● Cracks on wall surface damage to the later rendering, which affects the
appearance.

TECHNIQUES TO CURE CRACKS

i. Epoxy injection:
● Cracks as narrow as 0.002 in. (0.05 mm) can be bonded by the injection
of epoxy.
● The technique generally consistently of establishing entry and venting
ports at close intervals along the cracks, sealing the crack on exposed
surfaces and injecting the epoxy under pressure.
ii. Routing and sealing:
● This method involves enlarging the crack along its exposed face and
sealing it with a suitable joint sealant.
The procedure is most applicable to approximately flat horizontal surfaces
such as floors and pavements.
iii. Stitching:
● The stitching procedure consists of drilling holes on both sides of the
crack, cleaning the holes and anchoring the legs of the staples in the
holes, with either a non-shrink grout or an epoxy resin-based bonding
system.
● Stitching may be used when tensile strength must be re-established across
major cracks.
iv. Drilling and plugging
● Drilling and plugging a crack consists of drilling down the length of the
crack and grouting it to form a key.
● This technique is only applicable when cracks run in reasonable straight
lines and are accessible at one end.
v. Gravity filling:
● Low viscosity monomers and resins can be used to seal cracks with
surface widths of 0.001 to 0.08 in. (0.03 to 2 mm) by gravity filling.
● High molecular weight methacrylate, urethanes and some low viscosity
epoxies can be used.
● The lower the viscosity, the finer cracks can be filled.