Research and Applications in Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation – Zingoni (Ed.)
© 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-1-138-00061-2
The origin of plastic settlement cracking and the effect of re-vibration
R. Combrinck & W.P. Boshoff
Department of Civil Engineering, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
ABSTRACT: Plastic settlement cracking occurs within the first few hours after the concrete has been cast.
Although the mechanism and general location of these cracks are known, not enough attention has been given
to their origin. This study experimentally shows that the origin of plastic settlement cracks are from the bottom
upwards and not from the surface downward, which means that these cracks may be present even if not