CRACK PROPAGATION MEASUREMENTS FOR MARIESTOPES

HEADQUARTERS BUILDING-KIDARUMA ROAD, NAIROBI

REPORT NO.005/2017

StruMat TESTING
P.O BOX 7160-00200
NAIROBI

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

This report has been prepared in response to a request made by Eng. Patrick
Ojuok of P.O Box 2228-00100, Nairobi to carry out crack mapping and profiling
tests on selected areas on walls and ground floor slab of the Mariestopes
Headquarters building along Kidaruma road, Nairobi.
Cracks have formed on walls and Ground floor at several locations within and outside
the Mariestoppes Headquarters Building.

Crack width, length and depth Measurements were carried out on selected cracks with
an aim of assesing the extent of propagation of the cracks. The measurements were
carried out on Saturday 29th July 2017.

2.0 METHODOLOGY

2.1 Crack Width Measurement

The widths of the cracks were measured using a crack width gauge with an accuracy of
0.02 mm.

2.1.1 Equipment and illustrations

Shown below are photos of various features of a crack width gauge and applications

Figure 1:showing a crack width gauge

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 Figure 2: showing the scale of the crack width gauge

Figure 3: showing placement of a crack width gauge for measurement

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 Figure 3: showing a magnified image of the crack reading 24 divisions=0.48mm

2.2 CRACK LENGTH MEASUREMENT

The cracks were observed to be propagating in various directions. For the ones running
in a straight line the normal method of length measurements was adopted-using a tape
measure. However a crack width microscope was used to help identify and mark the
terminal points of the cracks for future monitoring.
For cracks that were found to propagate irregularly, the length of their active areas was
taken.
Detailed sketches of the cracks locations on the affected elements were made and are
available in the detailed version of this report.

2.3 Crack Depth Measurement Using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Method

The velocity of ultrasonic pulses traveling through a solid material depends on
the density and the elastic properties of that material. Ultrasonic pulse velocity
testing using low frequency pulses of 54 kHz is employed as a Non Destructive
testing technique to determine the depth of cracks through indirect transmission
method.
This method uses two measurements taken with the transducers placed
equidistantly from the crack at the distances x, and 2x as shown in fig. 1 below

Fig 1: transducer arrangement for depth of crack measurements

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Figure 4: Set up for crack determination of crack depth using ultrasonic pulse method

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4.0 TESTS RESULTS

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 CRACK PROPAGATION MEASUREMENTS FOR MARIESTOPES HEAD QUARTERS BUILDING

Table 1: Cracks’ Details

Test Location Crack Crack length/length Crack depth

Crack No. & No.on the Width of active area (mm) Orientation of the crack
location crack (mm) (mm)
11 2.20 340 216 Horizontal on wall
1-Wall inside 12 0.80 550 114 Vertical on wall
finance room 13 0.56 340 207 Diagonal on wall
14 0.46 780 87.5 Horizontal on wall
2-Floor tiles at 21 0.28 280 No space for depth
measurement
Transverse on the floor tiles
the finance 22 0.70 560 101.2 Transverse on the floor tiles
room entrance 23 0.50 400 46.6 Longitudinal on the floor tiles
3-Director 31 0.44 80.8 Transverse on the floor tiles
finance room 32 0.40 2200 75.3 Transverse on the floor tiles
floor tiles 33 0.60 145.9 Transverse on the floor tiles
4-Western side 41 0.06 600 63.9 Diagonal on wall
outer wall 42 0.10 700 26.9 Diagonal on wall
5-Western side 51 0.20 530 82.4 Diagonal on wall
outer wall 52 0.40 650 112.8 Diagonal on wall
6-Rear side 61 0.04 129.0 Diagonal on wall
outer wall 62 0.10 1360 219.0 Diagonal on wall
7-Rear side 71 0.08 104.4 Diagonal on wall
outer wall 71 0.12 1390 144.5 Diagonal on wall

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 APPENDIX :PHOTOS

Photo 1: a group of cracks propagating in different direction at location 1

Photo 2: A crack propagating on the floor appearing on the surface through the tiles

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 Photo 3: showing crack width measurement on wall in progress

photo 4: photo 5:showing crack width measurement on the floor slab in progress

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photo 6:showing ultrasonic pulse velocity measurement for crack depth determination

Photo 7:showing measurement of crack width on an outer wall in progress

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Photo 8: showing ultrasonic pulse velocity measurement for crack depth determination on a wall

photo 9:showing a magnified image of a crack on the measurement scale

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