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Introduction to Structural Distress

1
 Introduction
• Life Span of Concrete Structures ?

• Life Cycle of Concrete Structure ?

• Defects in Concrete Structures ?

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• Why Defects in Concrete ?

2
 Introduction
• Life Span = f ( mix properties, exposure, loadings, rehabilitation)

• Life Cycle begins from raw to failure

• Defects in concrete exists in all phases of life

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• Why Defects – internal and external factors

3
 Introduction
• Defect – imperfection – tendency to cause failure

• Distress – a symptom indicates the defects – micro crack

• Deterioration – Degradation – Gradual loss of desired

material properties
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4
 Introduction
• Repair – Reconstruction and renewal of existing buildings
either in a whole or part

• Rehabilitation - An upgrade to meet the current scenario

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5
 Distress in RCC

Efflorescence Bug Holes Cracking

Crazing
Corrosion
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RCC
Deflection Distress Structural Cracks

Honeycombing
Disintegration

Pop-outs
Erosion
Spalling
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Bug holes

Irregular cavities against formwork – migration of entrapped air

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Pop-outs

Rough conical depression – expansion of deleterious aggregates

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Cold Joints

Created when 1st pour hardens before 2nd pour

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Cracking

Insufficient Curing, Poor Mix Design, Impact Loads

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Crazing

Network of fine random cracks – shrinkage of layer relative to

base concrete – not much problematic
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Structural Cracking

Crack width more than allowable limit – non-uninform settlement,

heavy impacts loads
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Concrete Erosion

Abrasion - Well worn smooth surface,

Cavitation – Rough and pitted surface

 Delamination
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Separation of top layer from underlying layer. Harding top layer

followed by underlying layer due to air and water bleeding stuck
between layers
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Efflorescence

Due to presence of salts in the water and further leads to

corrosion of steel
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Spalling

Ingress of moisture and/or chemicals into concrete leads to corrosion

and further leads to volume expansion
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Honeycombing

Improper compaction, highly cohesive mix, segregation, low w/c

 Causes of Damages in RCC

Poor Quality Materials

Unethical Practices Non-Standard Mix Design

Underestimated loads
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RCC Poor workmanship

Damage

Improper Compaction
Insufficient Reinforcement

Insufficient Curing,
Cover block
 Questions
Remember

• Define Damage in Concrete

• List out causes of Damages in Concrete
• List out the types of damages in Concrete

Understand
• Map the different causes of damage in RCC to respective category of
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damage
 Stimulating Question

Is construction of small size buildings without standard guidelines

suggestable in villages ? Justify your answer with reasoning and examples.
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