Prediction of shrinkage cracking age of concrete with and without expansive additive

Abstract

The aim of this research is to propose a model for predicting cracking age of concrete due to restrained shrinkage. This study focuses on analyzing shrinkage and expansion mechanisms in the expansive concrete to formulate a model that can be employed to predict whether shrinkage cracking occurs or not. In case of conventional (non-expansive) concrete, this model can be applied by neglecting the early expansion due to expansive additive. Parameters considered in this model are restrained expansion, free shrinkage, cracking strain that can be experimentally measured by experiment and tensile creep which is derived by back calculation. The model was verified by test results of expansive concrete mixtures as well as normal concrete mixtures both with and without fly ash.