Crack Response of Structures to Weather and Construction Vibrations

Although cosmetic cracks are very common in
structures, remain most of the time unnoticed and do
not decrease structural integrity; humans are often
very concerned about them when irritating urban
construction activity occurs nearby historical
structures. In order to properly respond to human
concerns and understand how cracks live, this book
compares the naturally induced effects of
climate to the construction induced effects of
vibrations on cracks. The reconstruction of the
Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC provided a
unique opportunity to monitor and compare the
effects of very close construction vibration
activity, human household activity and long-term
weather effects on one outdoor and two indoor
cracks of the historic Blair House.
Consistent with other structures under similar
stimuli, the Blair House finally revealed that
construction vibration produced smaller crack
responses than did occupant activity and far smaller
crack responses than did long term weather effects.
This analysis should be especially useful
to professors and students in Civil Engineering,
professionals of the construction
industry and State Departments.

Autorentext

MS in Engineering: E.S.T.P, Paris, France / MS in Civil
Engineering: Northwestern University, McCormick
School of Engineering, Chicago, USA
/ Project Manager (LEED AP) at Jones Lang LaSalle Inc, New York,
USA.

Klappentext

Although cosmetic cracks are very common in
structures, remain most of the time unnoticed and do
not decrease structural integrity; humans are often
very concerned about them when irritating urban
construction activity occurs nearby historical
structures. In order to properly respond to human
concerns and understand how cracks live, this book
compares the naturally induced effects of
climate to the construction induced effects of
vibrations on cracks. The reconstruction of the
Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC provided a
unique opportunity to monitor and compare the
effects of very close construction vibration
activity, human household activity and long-term
weather effects on one outdoor and two indoor
cracks of the historic Blair House.
Consistent with other structures under similar
stimuli, the Blair House finally revealed that
construction vibration produced smaller crack
responses than did occupant activity and far smaller
crack responses than did long term weather effects.
This analysis should be especially useful
to professors and students in Civil Engineering,
professionals of the construction
industry and State Departments.