Sometimes it can be difficult to determine what is the cause behind a certain crack. Even though the majority of these cracks aren’t particularly concerning, it’s best to watch out for these signs and keep your concrete slab’s integrity. Cracks can form in concrete slabs, which are frequently used in construction for flooring, driveways, sidewalks, and other uses.
Types Of Cracks In Concrete Slabs | All You Need To Know
You can evaluate the causes and the best repair procedures by knowing the many sorts of fractures that can develop in concrete slabs.
1. Diagonal Cracks
Normal locations for diagonal cracks on a reinforced concrete slab are along its height. These cracks can compromise the stability of the concrete slab since they affect the full face of the column. The majority of the time, diagonal cracks can be caused by a small cross-section.
Other causes of this crack, however, include insufficient steel reinforcing or the column’s load-bearing capabilities. You must fix these cracks as soon as possible because they immediately jeopardize the stability of the building.
2. Splitting Cracks
Splitting cracks in a reinforced concrete slab are short, parallel, and vertical fissures of variable lengths. Columns that have poor concrete quality or insufficient steel reinforcing are more prone to splitting fractures.
If the concrete slab is reinforced, it has probably been loaded above its breaking point, leading to splitting fissures. This can happen as a result of a poor cross-section, insufficient reinforcement ratio, or both.
It’s ideal to fix these cracks as soon as you see them since if they spread widely, they completely destroy the basis of your concrete.
3. Horizontal Cracks
At the intersection of the beam and column, reinforced concrete slabs may also have horizontal fissures. Such cracks may even appear on the column face if the tensile tension is significant.
These cracks are brought on by insufficient reinforcements and moment resistance capabilities. In addition, columns with improperly fitted reinforcement are vulnerable to horizontal cracks. Uniaxial bending, direct load, or shear force are responsible for this.
The shear strength of a column can be significantly decreased by horizontal cracks. They thus jeopardize the entire structure, increasing the risk to future safety.
4. Corrosion Cracks
It’s crucial to keep an eye out for corrosion cracks near the reinforcement lines on the column supporting the concrete slab. Usually symmetrical in breadth, these cracks only get wider with time and concrete deterioration.
Usually, reinforcement corrosion in the concrete or poor bonding between the steel bars and concrete results in corrosion fractures. It’s best to avoid wasting time before treating such flaws because they only get worse with time.
5. Plastic Shrinkage Cracks
Concrete is considered to be in its flexible form just before it hardens. Since there is still a lot of water in the concrete at this point, it is vulnerable to plastic shrinkage cracks. After drying, the water leaves air bubbles in the concrete slab.
The air bubbles make the concrete more susceptible to cracks caused by plastic shrinkage. These cracks are likely to appear anywhere on the concrete slab. Nonetheless, they are most prevalent at reentrant corners, which are where two corners meet in the slab.
6. Expansion Cracks
Concrete slabs, like other materials, expand when heated, pushing against everything that restricts it. Expansion cracks form in concrete when it cannot flex or bend when heated.
Expansion joints are typically used by concrete finishers as isolation points between stationary objects as a fix. Often, these joints are constructed from compressible materials like rubber, wood, or asphalt.
Expansion joints absorb the shock and relieve stress when the concrete starts to expand as a result of heat, preventing cracks in the long term.
7. Hairline Cracks
While still drying, concrete slabs are most susceptible to hairline cracks. Although these fissures don’t affect the concrete slab’s base, they could lead to leaks in the future.
Your concrete foundation may have been poured too rapidly or improperly mixed if you observe hairline cracks appearing soon after pouring it. Since the edges of a wall are more sturdy than its middle, especially in bases made of poured concrete, these fissures frequently form there.
8. Heaving Cracks
Heaving cracks generally appear during the winter months when concrete continuously freezes and thaws. You might observe that when the concrete slab freezes, it elevates a few inches before it thaws and falls to the ground.
The concrete slab may develop heaving fractures as a result of a recurrent cycle of freezing and thawing. By allowing the slab adequate room to move freely with the ground, you can avoid these fissures.
It’s also preferable to avoid placing concrete slabs too close to a tree sapling since the roots can lift the concrete slab and cause a split.
9. Settlement Cracks
Due to insufficient subsurface consistency or inadequate ground preparation, concrete slabs may be more susceptible to settlement cracks. After the concrete has been poured, they typically develop over areas of uneven subgrade soil.
It’s important to remember that the base of the concrete “bends” over one spot, allowing for differential settlement. Because of this, these cracks are larger at their beginning than at their end. You could notice that they appear more than once on one wall as a result.
10. Structural Cracks
A residential concrete foundation can frequently develop structural cracks as a result of horizontal settlement or loading. Sometimes the applied load causes these cracks to develop. Extreme hydrostatic pressure or heavy machinery near the foundation wall falls under this category.
As a result, structural cracks are often horizontal and extend 16 to 48 inches from the starting point. Compared to other bases, block foundation walls are more prone to structural flaws.
If you see cracks in your concrete slab that are widening, posing a threat to your safety, or interfering with the slab’s functionality, it’s crucial to seek the advice of a skilled expert like We Fix Cracks for accurate assessment and repair.