Cracks in concrete arise at all stages of life of concrete structures, and can be induced by loads or volumetric changes due to plastic settlement, high curing temperature, various types of shrinkage and other deteriorating mechanisms such as frost, alkali aggregate reaction, etc. Inadequate curing leading to cracking or extensive microcracking could considerably decrease durability and service life of structures. A tool for crack identification and quantitative description of crack system in concrete was developed in order to aid a service life assessment of concrete elements in structures. The paper presents a new testing method and its significance for concrete permeability assessment. Samples for crack analysis were impregnated with epoxy resin containing fluorescent dye. The examination of crack system was performed in ultraviolet light using stereomicroscope and Image Pro Plus digital image analysis system on specimens cored out of several concrete structures. The process of digital image analysis consisted of extracting the various defect from the observed image, filtering operations and sorting the extracted defects on basis of shape analysis. Crack pattern analysis was performed on specimens cored out of several reinforced concrete floors, columns, slabs on ground, suspended parking slabs. The analysis of cracks in concrete cores resulted in interesting conclusions based on the crack widths distribution and crack localization in respect to steel reinforcement. The method was found very effective to support standard concrete diagnostics methods.

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