My Journal on "Causes, Prevention and Repair of Cracks in a Building"
I. INTRODUCTION C racks are the most common problem that occurs in any type of concrete structure such as, beams, columns, etc. A building component develops cracks whenever stress in the component exceeds its strength. Stress in a building component could be caused by externally applied forces such as, dead, live, wind or seismic loads and internal forces such as, moisture changes, thermal movements and chemical reaction. There are numerous causes of cracking in concrete, but most instances are related more too concrete specifications and construction practices than by stresses due to induced forces. Cracks are classified in two categories: Structural Cracks and Non-Structural Cracks. Structural cracks are occur due to incorrect design, faulty construction or over loading. These may endanger the safety of a building. Non-Structural cracks are mostly due to the internally...