Title: Numerical Analysis of Shrinkage Process Based on Experimental Data

Author(s): Barbara Kucharczyková, Hana Šimonová, Petr Frantík, and Dalibor Kocáb

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume: 117

Issue: 5

Appears on pages(s): 39-49

Keywords: cementitious; experiment; mass losses; numerical model B4; prediction; shrinkage; ultrasonic pulse velocity

DOI: 10.14359/51724622

Date: 9/1/2020

Abstract:
This paper focuses on the comparison of experimentally obtained data with the shrinkage model B4 designed by a research group led by Professor Z. P. Bažant. Two cementitious materials, one having a high water-cement ratio (w/c) and one having a low w/c, were prepared for the experiment. Intentionally, the test specimens were not protected from drying during the entire period of measurement. Test results confirmed that the actual shrinkage process as measured does not correspond with the prediction model, especially during its early age. Shrinkage during the plastic and semi-plastic stages of the solidification process is not reflected in the predicted shrinkage curve. However, if the start time of the evaluation of the experimental data corresponds to the time of maximum derivatives of the temperature, length changes, and ultrasonic pulse velocity curves, better correspondence between the experiment and prediction model is observed for material with a low w/c. However, this approach does not improve the correspondence between the experiment and numerical prediction in the case of material with a high w/c.