Common Brickwork Defects

Cracking can occur in brickwork for a number of reasons:

- Ground movement leading to foundation failure

- Rapid change in load leading to disproportionate settlement

- Mobile ground water undermining foundations

- Thermal movement

- Wall rotation due to lateral instability

- Excessive lateral loads on walls

- Accident

Rainwater Harvesting

Where there is no surface water, where groundwater is deep or inaccessible due to hard ground conditions, or where it is too salty, acidic or otherwise unpleasant or unfit to drink, another source must be sought. In areas that have regular rainfall, the most appropriate alternative is the collection of rainwater, called ‘rainwater harvesting’.

Flat slab Post Tension

Flat slab Post Tension

Rusty Rebar—Is It A Problem?

Reinforcing bar and mesh often arrives on site with some rust on it. This is quite normal: hot-rolled bars and coil have a layer of what's called mill-scale on the surface when they leave the mill. This mill-scale provides a protective layer in the right conditions but if stored externally or if the steel has been handled, this mill-scale may be disturbed leading to light rusting.

What is the difference between a beam and a column?

If you keep it horizontally it is called a Beam which carries the loads by bending, simply called flexure.

Fracture critical bridge inspection

Pack Rust

Cross section loss of a steel girder due to pack rust corrosion is another defect that can be found in an FC bridge inspection. The pack rust occurs between two mating surfaces and is a volume of rust formed over the original steel. The pack rust may create localized distortion, and possibly cracking and loss of cross section.

Modern Mapping of Conditions

One of the most recently developed pieces of GPR equipment emerging in today’s market is the multi-array (fitted with multiple antennae) bridge inspection unit (BIU). Although typically linked to bridge inspections, this device can map the arrangement and condition of any horizontal structure, providing specific information on reinforcement cover depth, delamination, voiding, and relative moisture content. Its use does not have to be limited to concrete either. The technology allows for scanning through asphalt and other masonry types, such as brick and stone pavers; however, it was specifically developed with structural health assessments in mind.

The Difference Between Curing and Drying Concrete

The terms curing and drying are frequently used interchangeably with regard to the moisture condition of new concrete slabs. The following definitions clarify these terms.

Why would an inclined column be designed any differently than a vertical column?

Why would an inclined column be designed any differently than a vertical column? 

If it is a gravity column then it is pinned-pinned and has essentially axial load only. It would obviously throw some additional lateral load on the lateral system, but that's not of concern for the design of the actual inclined column (again, assuming it is a gravity column). If it is a lateral column, again, why would the design be any different?

Diagonal cracking in wall pier masonry

Diagonal cracking in wall pier masonry is typical damage of shear seismic forces. It's different if cracks appear in wall pier masonry or in sill masonry:

Construction of Arch Bridge

 

Construction of Arch Bridge

How tower cranes erected themselves

Ever wonder how cranes that build high-rise buildings get built? 
They can build themselves upwards!

Tunnel Excavation & Methods of Construction

Tunnel Excavation & Methods of Construction