Impact of Concrete Cracking: Case Study in Chilean Construction Projects

Abstract

The construction sector is one of the most relevant to the world economy. Within it, the most used material is concrete given its excellent construction characteristics. However, this material suffers from different issues that can severely affect its performance and thus a construction project’s productivity. Of these issues, cracking is one of the most common and significant. It can affect the three most important aspects of construction: cost, deadline, and quality. Although its importance is recognized within the construction industry, to this day no clear vision exists as to the specific impact that cracking can have on a project. Consequently, this study aimed to determine that impact on mining, electrical, and civil infrastructure construction projects through a statistical analysis of 13 completed projects that suffered cracking. To obtain this information, companies involved in the construction of those projects in Chile were contacted. Additionally, this statistical analysis was complemented by a survey targeting professionals in the field who have dealt with cracking situations, with the objective of comparing the statistical results with the personal/professional survey responses. Analysis of project records indicated that concrete cracks represented a low percentage of total construction cost. This correlated with the surveyed professionals’ perceptions; however, the lack of proper recordkeeping by construction companies creates annual losses of several million in rehabilitation work, besides possibly hiding the real impact of cracking, creating an iceberg effect.