What Are The Different Types Of Materials Used For Filling Concrete Cracks?

While natural disasters remain a major worry, a large section of the country's infrastructure cannot withstand even natural disasters such as severe rainfall. Heavy rains last year caused multiple towns to submerge in water, seriously losing life and property.

The fixing cracks in concrete enlists specific materials best suited for building repair and strengthening projects in a building strengthening guideline. Here is a list of the top materials for building repair, restoration, and seismic strengthening:

Non-shrinkable Grouts

This is an excellent substance for fixing cracks in concrete constructions. Their unique selling point is that their loudness does not drop when set. Ready-mix non-shrink grouts containing non-shrink cement, specific sands, and polymers are now available on the market. The polymer in such mixtures strengthens the grout's adhesive and tensile strength.

Shotcrete

A Shotcrete is a form of mortar or concrete mix containing coarse particles no larger than 10 mm. Using compressed air, this form of cement mortar or concrete is sprayed directly to fix cracks in the concrete surface. This mixture is sprayed at high speeds through a jet nozzle, assisting the shotcrete in forming a compact, uniform mass on the surface. Shotcreting is the process of producing shotcrete.

Resins Epoxy

Epoxy resins are chemical combinations with great tensile strength that work well as adhesives. Their composition may be altered to meet specific needs, and the elements needed to create an appropriate epoxy resin are combined shortly before application. Some epoxy resins have such low viscosity that they may be injected into tiny fractures in fixing cracks in concrete walls. On the other hand, high-viscosity epoxy resins are commonly used for surface coating and filling major fractures or holes. These binding agents can also be utilised efficiently in applications requiring the attachment of steel plates to fix cracks in concrete structures.

Mortar with Epoxy

This unique substance is created by combining high- or low-viscosity epoxy resins with fine aggregates/sand and is used to fill large holes or gaps. The compressive and tensile strengths of epoxy mortar are greater than those of cement concrete, but its modulus of elasticity is lower. Sand is added to epoxy cement during manufacturing to increase its modulus of elasticity.

Cement Mortar

This is a non-hydrous magnesium phosphate cement as a liquid and a dry powder. Quick-setting cement mortar combines liquid and dry powder in the same way cement and aggregates are combined to make cement concrete.

The mechanical anchors used in construction

are anchors or fasteners that use wedging action to give anchoring to fix cracks in concrete constructions. Mechanical anchors are used to provide sufficient strength to a structure, and certain anchors can withstand both shear and tension forces. Chemical anchors affixed to drilled pilot holes using polymer adhesives have been recommended for instances where mechanical anchors cannot be employed.

Polymers or fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP)

This newly discovered material may enhance reinforced concrete (RC) or masonry constructions and replace steel plate bonding. FRP has a high strength-to-weight ratio as well as corrosion resistance. These plates must be fastened to the afflicted structure with epoxy mortar, and it is recommended that the manufacturer's instructions and thorough testing be followed before fixing cracks in concrete projects.