Structural Evaluation By : Dr.
Mariam Ehab
Lecture(2) Building A , Room 305, ext.2427
23CEM28H E-mail: mariam.ehab@bue.edu.eg
Contents
• Introduction
• Maintenance causes
• Preliminary Inspection
• Destress types / causes
• Detailed Inspection
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Introduction
• Many factors affect the structure durability , serviceability and stability.
• For any failure or distress occurs, a condition inspection need to be done to identify the
causes of distress and their sources .
• As a result in assessing the extent of the distress occurred due to corrosion, fire ,
earthquake or any other reason
• Then , calculating the residual strength of the structure and its rehabilitability .
• Prioritizing and selecting the plan for the effective remedy.
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Maintenance and Rehabilitation Causes
The causes which necessitate the maintenance affects the service and durability of the
structure as follows:
▪ Atmospheric Agencis
▪ Normal wear and tear
▪ Failure of structure
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Maintenance and Rehabilitation Causes
➢Atmospheric Agencis
Rain: It is the important source of water which affects the structure in the following ways:
Expansion And contraction
Chemical: The water available in nature contains acids and alkali and other compound in
dissolved form acts over the material to give rise, which is known as chemical weathering.
Wind: It is the agent, which transports the abrasive material and assists the physical
weathering.
Temperature: The diurnal, seasonal and annual variation of the temperature, difference in
temperature it causes expansion and contraction.
➢Normal wear and tear
During the use of structure it is subjected to abrasion and thereby it looses appearance and
serviceability
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Maintenance and Rehabilitation Causes
➢ Failure of structure
Improper design: Due to incorrect, insufficient data regarding use, loading and environmental
conditions, selection of material and poor detailing.
Defective construction: poor materials, poor workmanship, lack of quality control and
supervision.
Improper use of structure: overloading, selecting the structure for the use they not designed
impurities from industrial fuel burning, sea water minerals etc.
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Preliminary Inspection
• Many effects can been visually appeared on the structure
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Preliminary Inspection(Effects/Symptoms)
• Leakage (Examples of roof leakage and water seepage)
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Preliminary Inspection (Effects/Symptoms)
• Cracks (Structural / Non-Structural )
Non-Structural cracks Structural cracks
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Preliminary Inspection(Effects/Symptoms)
• Settelement Cracks
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Preliminary Inspection(Effects/Symptoms)
• settlement cracks on walls and floors
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Preliminary Inspection(Effects/Symptoms)
• Spalling of Concrete
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Preliminary Inspection(Effects/Symptoms)
• Chemical Attack on Concrete
salt storage induced
sulphate attack induced
spalling
spalling
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Preliminary Inspection(Effects/Symptoms)
• Deterioration of Concrete
deterioration of concrete cover load induced deterioration
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Preliminary Inspection(Effects/Symptoms)
Scaling of Concrete
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Distress Types
Non-Structural Damages
➢ Caused by internally Induced stresses in components
➢ Not clearly inspected visually
➢ Indirectly leads to Structural Weakening
Structural Damages
➢ Caused by faulty Design , Faulty Construction and /or Overloading.
➢ Endangers building Safety
➢ Needs immediate Solution
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Distress Types
Non-Structural Damages
➢ During Construction
➢ Post-Construction
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
During Construction
• Local settlement of subgrade
• Swelling of formwork
• Internal settlement of concrete
• Setting shrinkage
• Premature removal of shores
• Vibrations
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
During Construction
Local settlement of
subgrade
• Pouring fresh concrete some-
times may cause subgrade below
it to compress or settle. Uneven
stresses thus created cause cracks
in the concrete
The Cure
• Cracks of this sort are cured while
applying final finish to the
concrete.
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
During Construction
Swelling of Formwork
• Formwork absorbs moisture from concrete
or the atmosphere, which results in
swelling of form.
• Crushing of wale in the formwork also
causes movements of forms
• These result in cracks in the concrete
while setting
Prevention
• Coating of the formwork with moisture
resistant material.
• Using unyielding lateral ties with
• good end anchorage
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
During Construction
• Internal Settlement of Concrete
• Differential settlement between the surface and the interior
volume of the concrete suspension causes surface cracks.
• Concrete on the surface sets faster than the interior
suspension
Prevention
.
• Surface cracks can be cured and closed by delayed finishing.
• Curing of concrete must start immediately after casting to
delay setting of the surface concrete.
• Good compaction will also help prevent this defect
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
During Construction
Concrete Shrinkage
• While setting the concrete shrinks giving rise to surface
cracks resembling the scales of the alligator.
Prevention
• Good and timely curing will help avoid this type of damage.
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
During Construction
Premature Removal of Shores/Formwork
• Premature removal of shores from freshly
poured concrete causes re- distribution of
stresses on formwork, causing movements
and cracking of concrete.
Prevention
• Shores must be removed only after the
concrete has gained sufficient strength.
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
During Construction
• Vibrations due to indiscreet walking over concrete and dumping construction
materials, etc., can also lead to cracking
Prevention
• Workers have to be trained in avoiding such carelessness
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
Post- Construction
• Temperature Stresses
• Aggressive action of chemicals
• Weathering action
• Moisture effects
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
Post- Construction
Temperature Stresses
Cracks in concrete can be produced due to temperature stresses due to:
• Difference in temperature inside and outside the building
• Variation in the internal temperature
Prevention
• The finishing of the surface should be such that it reflects solar radiation and not
absorbs it.
• Good concrete mix with low heat of hydration
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Distress Types(Non-Structural
Damages)
Post- Construction
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
Post- Construction
Corrosion of reinforcement
• Corrosion of reinforcement bars can be due to:
• Entry of moisture through cracks
• Electrochemical action
Prevention
• Seal the crack before it reaches the reinforcement bar
• Protect against corrosive chemical action by :
I. Keeping structure clean
II. Painting
III. Prevent from absorbing moisture
IV. Provide bituminous or zinc coatings.
V. Encase using fibre wrapping systems
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
Post- Construction
Chemical Attack
• Sulphate attack
• Acid attack
• Actions of Salts
• Alkali-aggregate reactions
Prevention
• In sulphate environment, the concrete must be made of sulphate-resistant cement. Bituminous
coating can also be provided
• In marine environment, C3A (tricalcium aluminate) content must be less than 8%
• Use of limestone aggregate in acidic environment is preferable
• Maximum alkali-content in cement must be less than 0.6%
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
Post- Construction
Spalling
Leakage
Abrasion scalling
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Distress Types(Non-Structural Damages)
Post- Construction
Weathering Action
• Shock waves
• Shock waves could be mechanical or thermal
Concrete is heterogeneous - different constituents have different wave transmission rates
Erosion
Prevention
• Providing sufficient reinforcement is said to an excellent resistance to shock waves.
• Use of high-strength concrete
• Proper curing
• Proper finishing
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