Title: Performance of Self-Consolidating Concrete Under Restrained Shrinkage

Author(s): H. T. See and E. K. Attiogbe

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 227

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 303-316

Keywords: cracking; cracking potential; cracking resistance; restrained shrinkage; ring test; self-consolidating concrete (SCC); shrinkage; shrinkage-reducing admixture (SRA)

DOI: 10.14359/14436

Date: 3/1/2005

Abstract:
With the increasing use of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) in the concrete construction industry, its performance in restrained structural elements is of interest in order to assess the resistance to restrained shrinkage cracking. A new standard test method, ASTM C 1581, which uses an instrumented ring, is employed to assess the cracking potential of various SCC mixtures under restrained shrinkage on the basis of either the time to cracking or the rate of stress development in the material. The performance of the SCC mixtures is compared to that of conventional concrete mixtures to assess the effect of fluidity level on resistance to restrained shrinkage cracking. In addition, the SCC mixtures are evaluated for the effects of sand-to-aggregate ratio (S/A), paste content, aggregate shape, and use of a shrinkage-reducing admixture (SRA) on cracking potential. The results show that the cracking resistance of SCC is similar to that of conventional concrete, indicating that the higher fluidity of SCC is not detrimental to performance under restrained shrinkage. The cracking potential of the SCC mixtures is found to be influenced by the mixture composition.