Cracks in Building – Carbonation

Preetham Builders one of the Best Builders in Madurai are developing Gated Community Luxury villas and flats.

This gated community ” BRINDAVAN HOMES ” is being developed in Kochadai Madurai, a fast developing area in Madurai.

With abundant water supply and green environments this gated community ” BRINDAVAN HOMES ” with individual buildings and Bungalows present a Resort like feelings.

Preetham Granite M.D addressed the gathering of engineers (Association of Madurai Civil Engineers) on Cracks in Buildings – Causes & Remedies at Hotel Weshtern Park ( 01.09.2016).

Carbonation

While concrete hardens calcium hydroxide gets liberated. This alkaline medium protects steel. If the surface is porous, air reacts with calcium hydroxide and forms calcium carbonate. This process is carbonation. This carbonation affects reinforcement and corrodes

PERMEABILITY OF CONCRETE – This is a major factor attending corrosion of reinforcement. From this consideration quantity of cement in concrete should not be less than 350kg m3 and water-cement ratio should not exceed 0.55 for ordinary structures and 0.45 for marine structures. All other normal requirements of good quality concrete namely grading and cleanliness  of aggregates  through mixing  adequate compaction and curing etc, should  be taken care of.

Glass panes to be fixed with adequate space around for thermal expansion.

Steel windows – effect of rusting results in cracking in glass panes.

Glass blocks – space for expansion when exposed to sun and rain,