The effect of surface cracking and its repair

The development of cracking on pavement slabs, for reasons described above, may impair the durability of concrete. It makes the concrete more permeable, which may contribute to more rapid deterioration from scaling after the use of de-icing salts. Additionally, it mars the appearance of the structures (Pool 2005 Neville 2011). 

Cracking does not really affect the load-bearing capacity because the weakened zone is usually confined to the top 50 mm of concrete. Load-bearing capacity could be a problem if full-depth cracking has occurred or if concrete is cured for an insufficient amount of time (Pool 2005). 

Successful repair of cracking is often very difficult to attain. Cracking in fresh or hardened concrete is a type of failure that is far easier to prevent and almost impossible to repair efficiently and successfully. 

It is better to leave most of the concrete cracking unrepaired than to attempt an inadequate or improper repair (Smoak 2012). 

Routing and sealing are used when cracks are linear or almost linear, so that the saw cutter can operate easily. Sealing, after thorough cleaning, is carried out using gravity fill polymers. 

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