Our firm was called upon to correct the cracks on the first-floor slab (decking) of an abandoned building which was left uncompleted for a very long time.
After inspecting the cracks, we got to realise that the cracks were due to poor edge and continuous reinforcements for the hogging moments near the beams, thus leading to serious deflections which caused such cracks.
..
Now, our firm is supposed to correct such anomalies, and also to complete the building.
..
I am the one that is supposed to come up with a good Long-Lasting solution to the problem.
..
How can someone take care of the problems?
(Should I crack open the slabs in order to introduce more reinforcement rods?? Or are there better alternatives to salvage the situation??)

Lalasticlala,
Seun

Stop the building sell the land and move on.

OgogoroFreak:
Stop the building sell the land and move on.

We were not the ones who started the building from scratch, and we were not the ones built it up to the level it is now.
The building had been at that stage since many years ago.
We were just involved recently by the clients in order to salvage the building, and then, complete it and hand it over.

Please you comments are needed here.
Thanks.
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My dear intellectuals (both in the field of practice, and in the wealth of knowledge)..
Please what's your take on this current situation described above?

BluntCrazeMan:
Please you comments are needed here.
Thanks.
Sonnobax15, jumpandpas, saferoom, hisgrace090, bewildered, madgoat, Rexnegro, Charisdesigns, 9niceguy, akaahs, matify83, Nauttyprof, Myer, alizma, Dedemworld, Saynotoapc, Sirchef, HOLAROCKDAY, danduchi, NaijaCoverBlog, Bigfish121, Rebuke, Zionthelion, kudinkarfe, Efobiandrew83, majamajic, fineboynl, AvalonSpace, blaise26abj, lonesome501, ArchyDesmond, SarkinYarki, Goswill1208, Chelshit080, Eriokanmi, liver123, arcnomec, agent01, professore, seunayantokun, enambobo, EndBuhariNow, ebuclassic18, jogsman01, Calfat01, Munzy14, BananaPeel, Reference, VicM6, Aforxzy, highoctane, Eze2000, okoroemeka, ThinkSmarter, randomme, pennywys, GodsOwn2004, drake2, kebliss, adanny01, Gbotun, zedman1, don4real18, jojoki, Gentlealibu, EmptyGarden, quentin06, Aarenasbaba, onojalynk, MrOkenwa, kebliss, SimplePlan34, UTEWUOJO, MadamExcellency, EgunMogaji2, kalasexy, All4good, mayorphilz, Jossy07, Zif82, Houston20, umykal, Kolisky, Nauttyprof, sirqeeboi, CashVessel, Zaxinorepub, Topman0001, jpride, Makaveli217, Hatesin,

If God wan punish you, he go allow you build story building on that death trap like that.


Why not clip the whole foundation like the image below and pour concrete?

BluntCrazeMan:
Our firm was called upon to correct the cracks on the slab of a building which was left uncompleted for a very long time.
After inspecting the cracks, we got to realise that the cracks were due to poor edge reinforcements for the hogging moments near the beams that caused such cracks.
..
Now, our firm is supposed to correct such anomalies, and to complete the building.
..
I am the one that is supposed to come up with a good Long-Lasting solution to the problem.
..
How can someone take care of the problems?
(Should I crack open the slabs in order to introduce more reinforcement rods?? Or are there better alternatives to salvage the situation??)

From my point of understanding, you have figured out the problem...drag the bull by it's horn...Go ahead mark out the affected partition, crack and reinforce with a better steel..

Even in amendment/renovations it still same process..Just be bold at your decision...The slab probably sagged in due to poor reinforcement or improper use of reinforcement and binding materials...

Just proceed with the plans you have...

.

BluntCrazeMan:
My dear intellectuals (both in the field of practice, and in the wealth of knowledge)..
Please what's your take on this current situation described above?

Please permit me to defer to the seniors in class.

Also reach out to AbdulWastecx.

Good luck.

BluntCrazeMan:

@BluntCrazMan

Going by one of your building slab photos, the crack runs from one edge of the slab to the other,, akin to a dividing line separating the slab into two parts on plan.

Did you examine this building to be sure there is no foundation settlement in either direction.

First ascertain there is no foundation settlement.

Also request for the structural drawings of the building prior to executing any remediation work.

This looks bad and it seems there has been an attempt to repair the slab.

Is this on the ground or suspended floor?
Do show the section through the building.

How wide / deep is the crack and where exactly is it. Are the other structural elements showing any sign of weakness or failure. Also confirm if there is any spalling of the concrete..

I will recommend rebound hammer test on the slab as well other structural elements at strategic places first to determine the strength of the concrete since they have been expose for awhile.

If the concrete is strong enough then we can proffer a solution to remedy the situation.... Otherwise..

BluntCrazeMan:
Our firm was called upon to correct the cracks on the slab of a building which was left uncompleted for a very long time.
After inspecting the cracks, we got to realise that the cracks were due to poor edge reinforcements for the hogging moments near the beams that caused such cracks.

What do you mean by "inspecting the cracks"? Was it all the assessment you conducted on the building? If so that was grossly inadequate. Problem is NOT from the beams.

I think further inspection will reveal that differential settlement of edge columns have taken place to result in the slab hogging.

I would advise a non-destructive impact assessment of all structural elements in the building to ascertain suitability to continue with the existing structure.

Is there a structural design drawing at your disposal this would also come in handy as you progress testing.
Shalom

Apply The Best Solution And Your problem willl be over

OgogoroFreak:
If God wan punish you, he go allow you build story building on that death trap like that.


Why not clip the whole foundation like the image below and pour concrete?

That's first floor slab in the original post ooo.
Suspended floor (Decking).

GodsOwn2004:


@BluntCrazMan

Going by one of your building slab photos, the crack runs from one edge of the slab to the other,, akin to a dividing line separating the slab into two parts on plan.

Did you examine this building to be sure there is no foundation settlement in either direction.

First ascertain there is no foundation settlement.

Also request for the structural drawings of the building prior to executing any remediation work.

Thanks

NaijaCoverBlog:
Apply The Best Solution And Your problem willl be over

And what solution is that “Best Solution” which you're talking about?

Aforxzy:
This looks bad and it seems there has been an attempt to repair the slab.

Is this on the ground or suspended floor?
Do show the section through the building.

How wide / deep is the crack and where exactly is it. Are the other structural elements showing any sign of weakness or failure. Also confirm if there is any spalling of the concrete..

I will recommend rebound hammer test on the slab as well other structural elements at strategic places first to determine the strength of the concrete since they have been expose for awhile.

If the concrete is strong enough then we can proffer a solution to remedy the situation.... Otherwise..

It's first floor slab (Decking).
It's suspended floor

Aforxzy:
This looks bad and it seems there has been an attempt to repair the slab.

Is this on the ground or suspended floor?
Do show the section through the building.

How wide / deep is the crack and where exactly is it. Are the other structural elements showing any sign of weakness or failure. Also confirm if there is any spalling of the concrete..

I will recommend rebound hammer test on the slab as well other structural elements at strategic places first to determine the strength of the concrete since they have been expose for awhile.

If the concrete is strong enough then we can proffer a solution to remedy the situation.... Otherwise..

Thanks

All4good:


What do you mean by "inspecting the cracks"? Was it all the assessment you conducted on the building? If so that was grossly inadequate. Problem is NOT from the beams.

I think further inspection will reveal that differential settlement of edge columns have taken place to result in the slab hogging.

I would advise a non-destructive impact assessment of all structural elements in the building to ascertain suitability to continue with the existing structure.

Is there a structural design drawing at your disposal this would also come in handy as you progress testing.
Shalom

Thanks so much

BluntCrazeMan:
Our firm was called upon to correct the cracks on the first-floor slab (decking) of an abandoned building which was left uncompleted for a very long time.
After inspecting the cracks, we got to realise that the cracks were due to poor edge and continuous reinforcements for the hogging moments near the beams, thus leading to serious deflections which caused such cracks.
..
Now, our firm is supposed to correct such anomalies, and also to complete the building.
..
I am the one that is supposed to come up with a good Long-Lasting solution to the problem.
..
How can someone take care of the problems?
(Should I crack open the slabs in order to introduce more reinforcement rods?? Or are there better alternatives to salvage the situation??)

I don't know if you carried out site inspection before accepting the job, if the pictures you posted here are true, my advice, there is a time to tear down what was built and a time to raise anew what was torn down.
Your primary concern should be based on HSE policy.

BluntCrazeMan:
My dear intellectuals (both in the field of practice, and in the wealth of knowledge)..
Please what's your take on this current situation described above?

A picture would be more elucidating

BluntCrazeMan:
My dear intellectuals (both in the field of practice, and in the wealth of knowledge)..
Please what's your take on this current situation described above?

Stop highlighting me, you people should be matured enough to engage iin discussions, stop the juvenile quip, its very lame.

From what I can see there has been several attempt to repair that crack. And Unluckily for you, your firm was not the first people to have been contacted to solve that problem.

I will explain in a diagram why that is Happening. Either one side or both side is faulty. I would advise you pay attention to the foundation if there is a kind of submerge. You might need to take a measurement if anything has changed from the time the deck was made. Also is that the only cracks?

Just Pour water at the crasks and check which side if flows to.

Any remediation work done on that deck again would still give way .

Like many have suggested, rule out foundation settling as a cause of this crevice.

My best bet would be you "tear down" the whole structure as vibrations during repairs may weaken the whole building making it an accident waiting to happen.

The truth is bitter.

Notice also that the pillars suspending this deck are cast in 12 mm rod.

A shoddy job was carried out here ab initio.

As mentioned earlier, it's best to tear down the slaps and recast new one. It seems the person who did the job did a poor job.
I doubt if the foundation is a solid one, I suggest you bring an engineer to carry out certain test on the environment, soil, and the foundation itself and also on the pillars if there's any.

If there are already made pillars, you can tear them down and rebuild it, and also you can add external pillers for extra strength, or start everything afresh to be on a safer side and also avoid stories that touch.