Title:
Demystifying Autogenous Shrinkage
Author(s):
Pierre-claude Aitcin
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
21
Issue:
11
Appears on pages(s):
54-56
Keywords:
autogenous shrinkage; curing; drying shrinkage; high-performance concretes, hydration; initial setting, lightweight aggregates; self desiccation, shrinkage-reducing admixtures
DOI:
Date:
11/1/1999
Abstract:
Autogenous shrinkage is not a new type of shrinkage that occurs only in high performance concrete in the absence of an external source of water, but it is negligible when compared to drying shrinkage for usual concrete. As autogenous shrinkage increases when the w/c ratio decreases it can become as large as drying shrinkage for a w/c ratio of about 0.30. Autogenous shrinkage can be minimized by immediate water curing (before setting starts), therefore, high-performance concretes must be cured differently from usual (or normal) concrete. The early development of autogenous shrinkage also requires that present shrinkage testing methods be revised.