6 Common Types of Cracks in your Concrete

1. Plastic shrinkage concrete cracks

Plastic shrinkage occurs in a freshly mixed concrete, with loss of water by evaporation from its surface, after placing and before hardening of the concrete. This can lead to plastic shrinkage cracking if the rate of evaporation is higher than that of the bleeding water rising to the surface of the concrete.

2. Expansion concrete cracks

Due to the extreme heat, the concrete begins to expand and it pushes away anything present on its way such as a brick. Since neither of them can flex, the resulting expanding force is so strong that it can cause cracking of the concrete. These cracks are known as expansion concrete cracks.

3. Heaving concrete cracks

Due to the alternate freezing and thawing cycle, heaving concrete cracks are formed. Normally, the ground rises when it freezes and settles back down during thawing. If the concrete associated with the soil does not rise and subsequently settles down with the soil, then cracks may also develop in it.

4. Settling concrete cracks

Settlement cracks may appear when the underlying ground has not been compacted or appropriately prepared or if the subsoil was not of the proper consistency. A settlement crack may also appear as a random crack above areas where the soil of the subgrade was uneven after the concrete was poured.

5. Drying shrinkage cracks

The loss of moisture from fresh concrete results in a reduction in volume. If the shrinkage movement is opposed by some external or internal restraint, stresses will develop. When the stress exceeds the tensile capacity of the concrete, cracks develop.

6. Overloading concrete cracks

Although concrete gains adequate strength after curing, cracks may develop on it if subjected to excessive load for a long time. Such cracks on concrete that are formed due to the inability of concrete to withstand the excessive stress imposed are known as concrete cracks due to overloading.

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