I am working on a project using a secant pile wall as a temporary support to allow the construction of an underground tank built below the water table. The contractor has left some timber formwork trapped between the secant pile wall and the finished poured concrete wall. I have some concern that the timber he has left encased in the concrete might swell inducing cracks in the water retaining tank wall which has been design for max crack widths of 0.2mm.
My question is does anybody know the force exerted by timber when it swells? Is the confined swelling timber enough to crack concrete. The tank wall is 2 foot(600mm) thick with 3/4 inch (20mm)reinforcing bars at 6 inch (150mm) centres in each directions in both faces.
My question is does anybody know the force exerted by timber when it swells? Is the confined swelling timber enough to crack concrete. The tank wall is 2 foot(600mm) thick with 3/4 inch (20mm)reinforcing bars at 6 inch (150mm) centres in each directions in both faces.
