Measurement of strains and temperature responses in reinforced concrete walls

The concrete is soft in the initial stage and it expands as a result of being heated.

The concrete is soft in the initial stage and it expands as a result of being heated. If the concrete building component is a wall on a foundation, later cooling creates tensile stress, especially at the foot of the wall where the base plate interferes with deformation. This can produce cracks, which can cause problems, particularly if the structure must be watertight.

The walls of settling basins are typical examples of building components which need to be impermeable to water. Settling basins are given a fill test to check for leaks. Existing cracks are revealed by the damp lines along the cracks.