Stopping the Cracks

by Vladimir Novokshchenov, Senior Res. Engr.; Construction Technology Laboratories, Inc., 5420 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL 60077,


Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1988, Vol. 58, Issue 11, Pg. 54-57


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

It is generally agreed that reinforced concrete in parking garages especially in the deicing salt environment is exposed to unusually hostile service conditions. Deterioration of reinforced concrete usually starts as hardly visible cracking and proceeds at an accelerating rate when cracking increases. This paper discusses concrete cracking observed by the author in various types of parking garages in the State of New York. The cracking was due to one or several of the following causes: corrosion of embedded metals, alkali-aggregate reactions, weathering, restrained volume changes due to shrinkage and structural movements. The paper also discusses the effect of cracks on structural integrity of reinforced concrete exposed to deicing salts, and repair techniques employed to eliminate crack-related damage.

Subject Headings: Cracking | Reinforced concrete | Parking facilities | Salts | Deicing | Weathering | Structure reinforcement

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