Types & Summary of Cracks in

Reinforced Concrete Beams

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Occurrence of various crack patterns in the building mostly takes place during
construction and/or after completion. A building component develops cracks
whenever the stress in the components exceeds its strength. Stress in the
building component is caused by externally applied forces/loads.

Almost all the types of cracks are fundamentally defined by the principle
cause or mechanism associated with function of cracks. Here we have tried to
provide you an overview of almost all types of cracks occurred in beams.

Flexure cracks:

Flexure word also means Bending. Cracking in reinforced concrete beams

subjected to bending usually starts in the tensile zone i.e. soffit of the beam.
Width of flexural cracks in short-term, may stay narrow from surface to the
steel. However, in long-term under continuous loading, width of crack may get
increased and become more uniform across the member.

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Crack
Member Important Characteristics
Type
R C Beam Flexure
Originates in maximum moment region (in above image this region is in
per support Conditions of beam)

May be single or in groups

Maximum width at bottom/top of beam

Shear cracks:

Shear cracks occurs in hardened stage and it is usually caused by structural

(self weight) loading or movement. These types of cracks are better illustrates
as diagonal tension cracks due to combined effects of flexural (bending) &
shearing action.
 Courtesy - Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd.
Member Crack Type Important Characteristics Possible Reasons
R C Beam Shear
Originates nearer to supports. Shear Capacity of the
beam is inadequate.
May be single or in groups.
Cross section or
Maximum width at neutral axis region or at torsional reinforcement
bottom of beam. insufficient.

Both here happen due

to loading more than
designed load.

Torsional cracks:

Usually beams are subjected to torsion along with bending moment and shear
force. Bending moment & shear force occurs as loads acts normal to the
plane of bending. However, loads away from the bending plane will causes
torsional movement.

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Member Crack Type Important Characteristics
R C Beam Torsional
Originates nearer to maximum torsion region.

Single generally uniform width. Appears over the whole periphery in h

Corrosion cracks:

Corrosion cracks runs along the line of reinforcement. It usually separates the
concrete from reinforcing bars. It is mostly manifested by discolouration of
paint or stains of rust.
 Courtesy - Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd.
Member Crack Type Important Characteristics
R C Beam Corrosion
Runs along the line of reinforcement.

Uniform width in general

Shrinkage Cracks:

Shrinkage cracks occurs during two stages, which are pre-hardening stage
and hardened stage. In pre-hardening stage these types of cracks are called
as plastic shrinkage cracks & in hardened stage they are known as drying
shrinkage cracks. Shrinkage cracks occur when fresh concrete is subjected to
a very rapid loss of moisture.
Also Read: What is the Workability of Fresh Concrete.

Courtesy - Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd.

Member Crack Type Important Characteristics
R C Beam Shrinkage
No regular pattern or thickness and in general superficial.

Sliding cracks:

The diagonal mode of failure by sliding along the critical cracks is known as
failure by sliding and usually appears at the edge of the supports of beam.
These types of cracks appear if concrete gets disturbed in fresh state.
 Courtesy - Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd.
Member Crack Type Important Characteristics
R C Beam Sliding
Runs vertically at the edge of supports. Concre

Maximum width at bottom of beam. May be

Tension cracks:

Tension cracks in reinforced concrete beams occur usually due to shrinkage

or temperature variations. Tension cracks usually appear in those members
where restraint is provided in the longitudinal movements. Usually tension
cracks tend to propagate over the full depth of the cross-section of beam.

Courtesy - Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd.

Member Crack Type Important Characteristics
Reinforced Concrete Tie Tension
Appear over whole periphery. Generally over the whole

Parallel to each other.

Uniformly observed.
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