What are the two main types of structural cracks in concrete?

What are the two main types of structural cracks in concrete?

• A. Fatigue and Creep
• B. Tension and Compression
• C. Flexure and Shear
• D. Thermal Expansion and Contraction

Answer: (C)

Structural cracks in concrete mainly come from bending and from shear forces. When a member like a beam is loaded, bending creates tension in the concrete on the opposite side of the bend; since concrete isn’t strong in tension, cracks form in the tension zone, known as flexure cracks. These cracks typically appear vertically or nearly vertical along the span where bending is highest. Shear forces, on the other hand, try to slide one part of the member past another, producing diagonal cracks that commonly run near supports at a characteristic angle. So the two main crack patterns you’re looking for are flexure cracks from bending and shear cracks from shear. The other options describe time-dependent or stress-state effects rather than the typical crack patterns seen in structural concrete.

Structural cracks in concrete mainly come from bending and from shear forces. When a member like a beam is loaded, bending creates tension in the concrete on the opposite side of the bend; since concrete isn’t strong in tension, cracks form in the tension zone, known as flexure cracks. These cracks typically appear vertically or nearly vertical along the span where bending is highest. Shear forces, on the other hand, try to slide one part of the member past another, producing diagonal cracks that commonly run near supports at a characteristic angle. So the two main crack patterns you’re looking for are flexure cracks from bending and shear cracks from shear. The other options describe time-dependent or stress-state effects rather than the typical crack patterns seen in structural concrete.