Exploring Different Choices of “Time Zero” in the Autogenous Shrinkage Deformation of Cement Pastes Containing Superabsorbent Polymers (original) (raw)
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Materials
Many studies have already been published concerning autogenous shrinkage in cementitious materials. Still, no consensus can be found in the literature regarding the determination of the time-zero to initiate the recording of autogenous shrinkage. With internal curing agents, a correct evaluation of their efficiency depends on an appropriate choice of the time-zero. This study investigates different approaches to estimate the time-zero for cement paste mixtures with and without superabsorbent polymers as internal curing agents. The initial and final setting times were determined by an electronic Vicat and ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements (UPV); the transition point between the fluid and solid state was determined from the autogenous strain curve; the development of the capillary pressure was also studied. The choice of time-zero before the transition point led to higher values of shrinkage strain that should not be taken into account for autogenous shrinkage. A negligible diffe...
Mechanism of early age shrinkage of concretes
Materials and Structures, 2009
Moist curing improves the properties of concrete. However, shrinkages at early ages are found to increase with increased curing. The reason for this phenomenon is studied with four binders and two types of curing. The binders are comprised of Portland cement/slag blends with 0, 35, 50 and 65% of slag. Initial moist curing times of 1 and 7 days were studied. The samples were then exposed to standard drying conditions (23°C and 50% RH). During drying, the moisture losses in 7-day cured concretes were about 50% less than in 1-day cured concretes; however, the early age shrinkages were significantly higher in 7-day cured concrete. Pore size distribution tests and analyses showed that the pore radius where meniscus forms during drying is smaller in 7-day cured concrete due to finer pores, as compared to 1-day cured concrete. Further, good correlation can be seen between the meniscus radius and shrinkage, regardless of the binder and curing types. This provides the explanation for the increased early age shrinkage with increased curing. Further, this study demonstrates that the capillary tensile force is the governing mechanism for early age shrinkage.
Cement and Concrete Research, 2015
Fly ash and blast-furnace slag containing binders are frequently used in the construction industry and it is important to know the extent of autogenous shrinkage and its (ideal) mitigation by superabsorbent polymers in these systems as a function of their age. In this paper, the autogenous shrinkage was determined by manual and automated shrinkage measurements. Autogenous shrinkage was reduced in cement pastes with the supplementary cementitious materials versus Portland cement pastes. At later ages, the rate of autogenous shrinkage is higher due to the pozzolanic activity. Internal curing by means of superabsorbent polymers is successful, independent of this long term higher rate of shrinkage in mixtures with supplementary cementitious materials.
Numerical investigations on autogenous shrinkage of cement paste and mortar
Autogenous shrinkage of cement paste and concrete is defined as the macroscopic length change occurring with no moisture transferred to the exterior surrounding environment. It is a result of chemical shrinkage affiliated with the hydration of cement particles and the ongoing process of self-desiccation. The process of self-desiccation can be modeled starting from the formation of the capillary pore space during hydration in the cement paste. In this proposal a working model will be introduced explaining the difficulties to obtain the autogenous shrinkage strains directly from a simulated or measured microstructure of cement paste. In a second step the autogenous shrinkage of a hardening cement mortar was described on a mesoscopic level. It based on measurements on cement paste. The mortar simply consists of cement paste and a defined fraction of spherical aggregates with a known modulus of elasticity. Furthermore the influence of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) is studied in numerical simulations. The results of these finite-element-calculations are introduced and compared with testing results of the autogenous shrinkage of hardening mortar samples.
Autogenous shrinkage of concrete: a balance between autogenous swelling and self-desiccation
Cement and concrete research, 2005
According to physical analyses, the driving force of autogenous shrinkage of concrete is the change in the capillary pressure induced by self-desiccation in its cement matrix. Self-desiccation is caused by the balance between the absolute volume reduction (chemical shrinkage) and the building up of the capillary network. The aim of this study was to quantify the influence of the cement characteristics on the chain of mechanisms leading from hydration to autogenous deformations. Four parameters were selected: (i) for clinker, the amount of C 3 A and free lime and the SO 3 /K 2 O ratio; (ii) for cement, the fineness. To master the experimental area, 16 cements were prepared at the laboratory from pure raw materials. An important number of characterizing techniques were used in the experimental study. Their choice was based on the important parameters drawn from the physical analysis: setting time, suspension-solid transition, hydration kinetics through isothermal calorimetry and nonevaporable water, chemical shrinkage, evolution of relative humidity, capillary porosity and autogenous shrinkage. Using different techniques allowed to determine the precise mechanism of action of each parameter. Results showed that these mechanisms are generally different, even if their macroscopic consequences may be identical. This point will probably be useful for modeling and determining the industrial keys reducing the autogenous shrinkage. The physical mechanisms involved in autogenous deformations were further understood. In particular, this study shows that initial autogenous shrinkage should be considered as a balance between the self-desiccation and an initial swelling phase. The influence of the four parameters considered on this last phenomenon were also characterized.
Shrinkage Behavior of Conventional and Nonconventional Concrete: A Review
Civil Engineering Journal
Concrete is indeed one of the most consumed construction materials all over the world. In spite of that, its behavior towards absolute volume change is still faced with uncertainties in terms of chemical and physical reactions at different stages of its life span, starting from the early time of hydration process, which depends on various factors including water/cement ratio, concrete proportioning and surrounding environmental conditions. This interest in understanding and defining the different types of shrinkage and the factors impacting each one is driven by the importance of these volumetric variations in determining the concrete permeability, which ultimately controls its durability. Many studies have shown that the total prevention of concrete from undergoing shrinkage is impractical. However, different practices have been used to control various types of shrinkage in concrete and limit its magnitude. This paper provides a detailed review of the major and latest findings rega...
Effect of drying conditions on autogenous shrinkage in ultra-high performance concrete at early-age
Materials and Structures, 2011
This experimental study investigated the effects of drying conditions on the autogenous shrinkage of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) at early-ages. UHPC specimens were exposed to different temperatures, namely, 10, 20 and 40°C under a relative humidity (RH) ranging from 40 to 80%. The effects of using a shrinkage-reducing admixture (SRA) and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) as shrinkage mitigation methods were also investigated. The results show that autogenous and drying shrinkage are dependent phenomena. Assuming the validity of the conventional superposition principle between drying and autogenous shrinkage led to overestimating the actual autogenous shrinkage under drying conditions; the level of overestimation increased with decreasing RH. Both SRA and SAP were very effective in reducing autogenous shrinkage under sealed conditions. However, SRA was efficient in reducing drying shrinkage under drying conditions, while SAP was found to increase drying shrinkage. Generally, results indicate that adequate curing is essential for reducing shrinkage in UHPC even when different shrinkage mitigation methods are applied.
Autogenous deformations of cement pastes
Cement and Concrete Research, 2006
A micro-macro experimental study has been performed, from the end of mixing up to 2 years, on a set of plain cement pastes prepared with the same type I ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and various water-to-cement ratios (W/C), and cured at various constant temperatures. In this part I of the paper, volumetric autogenous shrinkage has been analysed in relation to various parameters characterizing the hydration process: chemical shrinkage, degree of hydration of the cement, Ca(OH) 2 content and Vicat setting times, within the early-age period (V24 h). The effects of the curing temperature (ranging from 10 up to 50 8C) have in particular been investigated. Its effects recorded on both the rate and the magnitude of volumetric autogenous shrinkage vs. time have pointed out the irrelevance of the usual maturity concept to describe such phenomenon within the whole early-age period. An improved maturity concept has hence been proposed. It is based on separating the early-age period in different phases and on using chemical shrinkage data for the calculation of the apparent activation energy applied to the prediction of autogenous deformations occurring after the setting period. Furthermore, micro-macro relationships have been pointed out, illustrating in particular the determining role of Ca(OH) 2 .
Computerised evaluation of the early age of shrinkage in concrete
Automation in Construction, 2015
Shrinkage is a natural phenomenon accompanying drying processes occurring in nature. Particularly acute it is on dirt roads in Africa and Asia, as in the dry season, at high ambient temperatures and low relative humidity, effects of drying are surface irregularities and even landslides. Fresh and hardened concrete mix is subjected to similar phenomena. The mechanism of action of shrinkage in concrete is more complicated than in the environment of cohesive soil, since in the initial phase of hardening chemical processes associated with cement hydration, and after hardening physical processes associated with the adsorption or loss of moisture from the environment during drying, lead to volume reduction. These influences can be precisely separated and indication of their significance for the quality of the concrete structure can be performed only by setting the deformation of concrete in the phase of the laying, caring and operation. The problem of continuous strain measurements in concrete is discussed in this publication, in which a review of existing methods for measuring shrinkage was performed in the period from the start of the modern concrete structures (USA, Europe after 1900 years) to modern times, in which the simple mechanical method of measuring shrinkage was replaced by modern electronic sets of measurement, enabling highly accurate measurements since the moment of production of concrete mix. The exact description of the process of the passing timethe deformation, enables making decisions to rectify or limit unfavourable shrinkage phenomena in the concrete (adding contraction admixtures, water care, covering with foil, use of the sealing and reflecting solar radiation surfaces). Proposed and tested by the authors of the article set-up for automatic control of shrinkage phenomena occurring in the concrete meets the above mentioned functions in both scientific discovery and relevant to practice application research.
Numerical modelling of autogenous shrinkage of hardening cement paste
Cement and Concrete Research, 1997
Hardened cement paste is a porous material. As hydration proceeds, pores become emptied and the relative humidity reduces. This reduction of the relative humidity goes along with a reduction of the pressure in the emptied pore space. Thermodynamic equilibrium requires an increase of the surface tension in the boundary layer that develops at the inner pore wall area. For validation of the model, experiments have been carried out. Good agreement is reached between the numerical simulations and the results obtained from experiments.