Title:
Evaluation of Plastic Shrinkage Cracking of
Self-Consolidating Concrete
Author(s):
Philippe Turcry and Ahmed Loukili
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
103
Issue:
4
Appears on pages(s):
272-279
Keywords:
concrete; plastic shrinkage; self-consolidating concrete; shrinkage cracking
DOI:
10.14359/16611
Date:
7/1/2006
Abstract:
This paper describes an experimental investigation of plastic shrinkage cracking of self-consolidating concrete (SCC). Five SCC mixtures with compressive strengths ranging from 30 to 50 MPa were compared to five ordinary concrete (OC) mixtures. Free and restrained plastic shrinkage tests were performed in drying conditions. Depending on evaporation rate, plastic shrinkage occurs before setting (wind), or before and during setting (no-wind). In the presence of wind, SCC and OC mixtures have almost the same plastic shrinkage. Moreover, restrained shrinkage tests reveal that cracks of SCC tend to be less wide than cracks of OC. Nevertheless, when evaporation rate is low, SCC mixtures exhibit a higher plastic shrinkage than OC mixtures, due to their lack of bleeding. Consequently, SCC could be more vulnerable to shrinkage cracking, especially during setting. Thus, curing is recommended to protect SCC against evaporation at the fresh state.