How Can You Tell What’s Causing The Concrete To Crack?

When doing an investigation destructive testing is not always an option or even practical. In the case of in-service concrete exhibiting cracking, destructive testing may even be contrary to the best interest of the structure. So, absent testing how can one tell what could be causing in-service concrete to crack?

There exists a number of industry documents designed to facilitate and aid in the nondestructive evaluation of cracked concrete. The Guide for Making a Condition Survey of Concrete in Service – ACI201.1R published by the American Concrete Institute and Concrete Repair Volume 1 – Identifying Concrete Deterioration published by The Aberdeen Group are two examples of nondestructive evaluation guides. Both documents provide pictorial examples intended to aid in identifying and typing; cracking, honeycombing, scaling, spalling and erosion of in-service concrete.

The follow-on question to the first is, "Does all of the concrete require removal and replacement if it is cracked?" Most of the time the answer is, "No." In fact the periodicals referenced along with the CRSI Concrete Repair Manuals provide means and methods employed by the industry on how best to clean, patch and/or repair cracked or deteriorated concrete.

So, yes it is possible to identify and type cracking without doing destructive testing. However, insitu and Destructive testing are still required and can never be replaced but can be used with greater discretion and in cases where only destructive methods are able to provide the answers required.

For more information on this topic our forensic group is ready to assist you. Contact William Bracken at wbracken@brackenengineering.com