Causes of concrete damage during construction

During construction, one of the quality requirements for concrete after pouring is that its service life must exceed the design life. To achieve this, the concrete must have abrasion resistance and be protected against deterioration from the environment and maintenance regime. However, due to certain reasons, cracking can occur after pouring. These cracks quickly become channels, making the concrete more vulnerable to harmful elements, leading to cracking, spalling, and accelerated wear.

1. Common types of concrete damage during construction

Crack Type	Crack Form	Main Cause	Time of Occurrence
Slumping	Around reinforcement.	Concrete mixed with excess water or left for too long.	10 minutes - 3 hours
Plastic Shrinkage	Diagonal or random, without pattern.	Concrete dries too quickly.	30 minutes - 6 hours
Thermal Expansion/Contraction	Cracks across the structure.	Concrete overheats due to admixtures or rapid cement hydration.	1 day - 2.3 weeks
Drying Shrinkage	Cracks across areas or in a wide network.	Incorrect placement of expansion joints.	Several weeks to several months
Reinforcement Corrosion	Outside the reinforcing steel.	The protective layer is too thin, allowing chloride ion penetration into the concrete.	2 years or more.
Sulfate attack	Regional cracking.	High sulfate content within or outside the concrete.	1-5 years

2. Main causes of concrete deterioration

The carbonation process reduces the pH of the concrete over time, breaking down the passive film that protects the reinforcing steel, accelerating corrosion and leading to structural failure.

The penetration of SO4 2- ions into the concrete, interacting with cement hydration products to form Ettringite, a mineral that expands in volume and causes structural damage (sulfate corrosion).

The diffusion of oxygen, Cl- ions, and moisture into the concrete under high air temperature conditions.

Microbial corrosion, mechanical erosion due to waves, and washout corrosion.

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3. Measures to prevent concrete corrosion:

Promptly addressing and controlling concrete cracks will help extend the service life of concrete structures, thereby saving costs on repairs and new construction. Smooth, crack-free concrete surfaces also enhance aesthetics and user safety.

The following measures will help effectively address concrete cracking. However, these are reference measures only; depending on the condition of the cracks, the project owner will have different remedial approaches.

- Reinforce concrete to ensure structural capacity.

- If possible, pouring concrete at night will help prevent cracking. Subsequently, cure the concrete immediately after it sets.

- Expansion joints are needed when slab edges are too long.

- Reduce cement content to prevent the concrete from becoming too hard.

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- Check if the beams are adequate. If adequate, treat by clamping additional steel mesh underneath the ceiling.

- Lay formwork and pump in an additional 3-4cm layer of high-grade small aggregate concrete

- Ensure the new steel mesh is tied to the old steel mesh.

- Pump concrete (high slump) through these holes.

- If the beams are inadequate, reinforce them in a similar manner or add auxiliary beams.

- Limit the use of rapid-hardening chemicals.

4. Song Ngọc – Construction unit ensuring quality for your project

Song Ngọc company was established in 2013 and has been operating effectively in the mechanical-construction sector to this day. With a team of experienced personnel who have participated in large projects for domestic and international investors and contractors, we are confident in ensuring your trust in our company.

Understanding the concerns of investors regarding common damage to concrete pillars and the quality of construction, Song Ngọc company continuously improves techniques and seeks the optimal solutions to protect structures from all forms of damage and deterioration.

We are committed to providing investors and clients with the best possible service experience, delivering high-quality projects that build trust and strong relationships with investors, main contractors and customers. This is also the goal and motto of our company.

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