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Structural Defects in Concrete Members

Structural Defects in Concrete Members

Structural Defects in Concrete Members

(OP)
Hello All,

I am doing an inspection at existing building and found these defects. Could you explain to me how these defects might affect the integrity of the structure as my colleague said the building is just fine, only requires some patching up on the concrete.

[img [URL=http://s593.photobucket.com/user/calmchigee/media/...][/URL]]

Is this column due to overload? For info, there are water tanks on the roof at this column area. I am sure for real whether the building is designed for water tank or if the water tank is only placed there recently.

[img [URL=http://s593.photobucket.com/user/calmchigee/media/...][/URL]]

Why is the crack at the bottom of the beam? I do not think it is bending failure nor the shear failure or am I wrong?

[img [URL=http://s593.photobucket.com/user/calmchigee/media/...][/URL]]

Is the defects at the bottom of the staircase is due to environmental factors? and not because of loadings.

[img [URL=http://s593.photobucket.com/user/calmchigee/media/...][/URL]]

Is the cause for this crack shear? Because the crack occurs at the support.

[img [URL=http://s593.photobucket.com/user/calmchigee/media/...][/URL]]

For this one, I do not think it is because of overloading etc. It is only the painting which is spalling off or am I wrong?

Thank you for your help.

#LoveWins

RE: Structural Defects in Concrete Members

Question, and please don't take it the wrong way: Should you be inspecting this building?

First photo: Is the column overloaded? That's why we have calculations (You've lost section; so in theory yes but the column may still have sufficient capacity). I don't see any signs of crushing or buckling. It looks like typical concrete spalling. Did you sound the area with a hammer. The section near the ceiling appears to be fractured as well. Was the concrete wet? Is there any leakage?The discoloration of the ceiling to the left side of the column leads me to believe there is leakage. Based on the photo - it it's recent - it doesn't appear that the building is in a cold climate where freeze-thaw would come into play.

Second photo: Assuming this is a reinforced concrete beam, it's not a shear failure; you would see diagonal cracks in the web. It might simply be cracking of the cover concrete. I raise the same questions: Did you sound the concrete? Is there any indication of water leakage? It is by a window.

Third photo: The defects appear to be due to exposure to the elements.

Fourth photo: The longitudinal crack could be separation of the bottom cover concrete. My thoughts are the same as the second photo. However, there appears to be a large spall forming to the left of the window - maybe - it's the beginning of a shear failure but I don't think so.

Fifth photo: Is it cracked paint or crack parging? I see a streak of rust to the right. Any idea what that is from? Is there a bar in the pop out?

We need more information to make an accurate assessment.

RE: Structural Defects in Concrete Members

I hesitate to even comment based on your photographs, but that building is in poor condition. Water is the greatest enemy of structures, and water has obviously done a job on this one. But the original design and construction were not the best, either.

RE: Structural Defects in Concrete Members

(OP)
Dear Bridgebuster,

None taken, it is alright. I am tagged along when the Senior Engineer did the inspection.

Yes, the building is not in the cold climate country thus the freeze-thaw factor can be ruled out. Water I have to say is one of the main factors here. Waterproofing in this building is not that good. Almost all the rooms for all the floors have leakage or indication that there was a leakage from the ceilings etc.

In addition to that, the building was designed to cater for domestic uses but currently it is used as a office and filing room/stores.

Third party had come in to carry out non-destructive testings for the building. And what I can see from their early results, they used T12 for the columns.

Dear Hokie66,

Yeah true, water looks like the main factor here. Unfortunately, the owner of the property did not have any as-built structural drawings for this. So it is very difficult for me to carry out their analysis. What I could do is do the modellings and compare the building based on loadings for domestic uses and office uses.

#LoveWins

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