**5. Influence of Morphology of the Cracking Patterns on the Properties of Cement Composites**

It is well known that cracks in cement composites are a defect in the material. Practically all functional properties of a cracked material deteriorate. The most important results of the research published so far concerning the influence of the structure of the cracking patterns on particular properties of cement composites are presented below in a synthetic way. The main focus is on performance at elevated temperatures, shrinkage and drying, water permeability, mechanical strength and chemical corrosion.
