Plastic Shrinkage Cracking Evaluation and Repair
ACI 224.1R-93 Causes, Evaluation and Repair of Cracks in Concrete Structures
ACI 224.1R-93 Chapter 1 – Causes & Control Chapter 2 – Evaluation Chapter 3 – Methods of Crack Repair
ACI 224.1R-93 Typical Plastic Shrinkage Cracking. (Price 1982)
ACI 224.1R-93 Chapter 1, Section 1.2 “Cracking of Plastic Concrete” Discusses Causes and Prevention ONLY!
ACI CP-10 -Certification for Concrete Technicians and Flatwork Finishers- Discusses Causes and Prevention ONLY!
NRMCA Concrete in Practice “If plastic shrinkage cracks should appear during final finishing, the finisher may be able to close them by refinishing.”
NRMCA Concrete in Practice Disclaimer “However, when this occurs, precautions, as described above, should be taken to avoid further cracking”
PCA EB001 Design & Control of concrete Mixtures “If plastic shrinkage cracks should appear during finishing, striking each side of the crack with a float and refinishing can close the crack”
PCA EB001 Design & Control of concrete Mixtures Disclaimer “However, the cracking may reoccur unless the causes are corrected”
ACI 305R Hot Weather Concreting Section In relatively massive placements, revibration before floating can sometimes close this type of cracking.
PCA EB001 Fig
ACI 224.1R-93 Typical Plastic Shrinkage Cracking. (Price 1982)
Much more serious cracking!
Fig PCA EB001
ACI 224.1R-93 Chapter 2 Evaluation of Cracks in Hardened Concrete
ACI 224.1R-93 Chapter 2 1. Identify Location and Extent of Cracking
Typical Plastic Shrinkage Cracking
Much more serious cracking!
ACI 224 Chapter 2 2. Determine functionality - Movement - Structural -Maintenance issue -Cosmetic
ACI 224 Chapter Map the cracks!
ACI 224.1R-93 Fig. 2.1-Comparator for measuring crack widths Courtesy of Edmound Scientific Co.
Crack Comparitor Card
ACI 224 Chapter 3 Methods of Crack Repair in Hardened Concrete
ACI 224 Chapter Epoxy injection - Bonds cracks as narrow as in. - Provides fixity - Original cause must be addressed - Typically deferred to specialist
ACI Specification for Crack Repair by Epoxy Injection
ACI 224 Chapter Routing and sealing - Clean cracks - Enlarge crack along exposed face - Fill and seal with suitable joint sealant - Not suitable for structural repairs
Groove cut wlth saw or chipping tools7 ACI 224.1R-93 Fig. 3.1-Repair of crack by muting and sealing (Johnson 1965)
ACI 224.1R-93 If large enough, treat as an induced crack Sawcut and fill
Crack ClosedNo Bond Breaker With Bond Breaker Fig. 3.2-Effect of bond breaker ACI 224.1R-93 Chapter 3 See ACI 504R Re. Aspect Ratio
ACI 224 Chapter Polymer Impregnation Methyl Methacrylate –Flood surfaces –Heat to polymerize, or –Use a catalyst to polymerize
ACI 224 Chapter Surface Treatments - Low viscosity penetrating resins - Urethanes - Epoxies - Polyesters - Acrylics
ACI 224 Chapter Overlays - Polymer modified PCC - Styrene Butadiene - Bridge decks - Acrylic latex - Interior toppings - Pool decks