Case 1 – Structural Cracks

Cause of Defects

As concrete is weak in tensile/flexural strength, when a building is subjected to loads that exceed its designed capacity, due to e.g. an increase in live/dead loads, structural cracks may occur. With lack of provision of movement joints, cracks, in this case, may be resulted due to differential structural movement or differential settlement of foundation caused by lateral movement together. Uneven settlement of the soil and loading can result in differential settlement exceeding the tensile/flexural stress of the reinforced concrete causing the crack. Such differential settlement if continues, will result in the formation of a live crack and must be treated seriously. Such cracks appear more apparent on walls near the sinking foundation. The design and construction phases must pay special attention to strengthen the control of the uneven settlement of the foundation.