BROAD CLASSIFICATION

i) MICRO CRACKS
ii) MACRO CRACKS

i) STRUCTURAL CRACKS
ii) NON-STRUCTURAL CRACKS

i) STABLE CRACKS
ii) UNSTABLE CRACKS

i) HARMFUL CRACKS
ii) HARMLESS CRACKS

ORIGIN OF CRACKS
CRACKS MIGHT DEVELOP DUE TO 1.STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCY RESULTING FROM
DESIGN DEFICIENCY OR CONSTRUCTION
DEFICIENCY.
2.DETERIORATION OF CONCRETE OR
CORROSION OF REBARS DUE TO POOR
CONSTRUCTION OR INAPPROPRIATE
SELECTION OF CONSTITUENT MATERIALS.
3.TEMPERATURE AND SHRINKAGE EFFECTS.

ORIGIN OF CRACKS (Contd)

4.OVERLOADING OF MEMBERS
5. SETTLEMENT OF SUPPORTS.
6. NATURAL HAZARDS;

ETC.

CHARACTERSTICS
Occurs when there is flexural st. deficiency
Occurs in maximum moment region
Maximum width at bottom face
Converges towards top
Occurs either singly or in group
REPURCUSSIONS
Affects structural soundness
Needs to be attended to as early as possible

CHARACTERSTICS
Occurs when there is flexural st. deficiency
Occurs in maximum moment region
Maximum width at top face
Converges towards bottom
Occurs either singly or in group
REPURCUSSIONS
Affects structural soundness
Needs to be attended to as early as possible

CHARACTERSTICS
Occurs when there is shear st. deficiency
Occurs in maximum shear region
Maximum width at mid-depth
Converges towards top/bottom
Occurs either singly or in group
REPURCUSSIONS
Affects structural soundness
Needs to be attended to as early as possible

CHARACTERSTICS
Occurs when there is torsional st. deficiency
Uniform width throughout
Occurs in the form of a spiral
Occurs singly
REPURCUSSIONS
Affects structural soundness
Needs to be attended to immediately

CHARACTERSTICS
Occurs when there is bond deficiency
Occurs directly over internal rebars
Uniform width
Occurs at deficient locations
REPURCUSSIONS
Affects structural soundness
Rebar corrosion triggered
Needs to be attended to as early as possible

CHARACTERSTICS
Bulging of cross section significant
Occurs when loaded beyond capacity
Several cracks appear in bulged region
REPURCUSSIONS
Structurally dangerous situation
Needs to be attended immediately

CHARACTERSTICS
Occurs in tension members when capacity
is exceeded
Uniform width throughout and parallel to
each other
Occurs over the whole length
REPURCUSSIONS
Affects structural soundness
Needs to be attended to as early as possible

PLAN

DIRECTION OF CONCRETING

LIMITATION OF CRACK WIDTHS

DEPENDING ON THE EXPOSURE CONDITIONS
LIMITATIONS ON CRACK WIDTH ARE IMPOSED.
1. FOR MEMBERS IN WATER STORAGE UNITS,
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, STRUCTURES IN
CHEMICALLY HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERE,
ETC.CRACKS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN R.C.
MEMBERS.
2. IN SEVERE ATMOSPHERES UPTO 0.1MM CRACK
WIDTH PERMITTED.
3. IN MILD AND MODERATE ATMOSPHERE UPTO
0.2mm CRACK WIDTH PERMITTED.

Measuring Magnifier - Proceq

CRACKSCOPE - GERMANN INSTRUMENTS

DIGITAL CRACK GUAGE - ELE

LOMARO MICROSCOPE- ELE