Case 2
Navigation
- Introduction
- Causes of Defects
- Good Practices
- Standards
- Maintenance and Diagnostics
- Remedial
- Similar Cases
- References
Cause of Defects
- Insufficient concrete cover provided
- Improper detailing of reinforcement at design stage
- Improper handling and placement of concrete and reinforcement at construction stage
Consequence
- Initially hairline cracks will surface. During rain, when water seeps into these cracks, rust might be washed out and cause brown stains along the cracks.
- Eventually, as the rust grows, the concrete covering will be forced off and the reinforcement will be left not only without any remaining protection against rusting, but also without any bond to transfer the tensile stresses which it may carry to the concrete.
- Structural failure will eventually follow.
- If spalled area is not repaired promptly, the structural integrity of the building might be compromised.
Improper design are often the cause for low constructability for accuracy placement of reinforcement and concrete resulting in insufficient and low quality concrete cover. Some example are shown below:
