Properties of fresh

and hardened
Concrete
FRESH CONCRETE

► Fresh concrete or plastic concrete is a freshly mixed

material which can be molded into any shape. The
relative quantities of cement, aggregates and water
mixed, control the properties of concrete in the wet
state as well as in the hardened state.
Properties of fresh concrete

► In fresh state concrete shows behavior of the fluid,

can be pumped, acquires the shape of the mold in
which it is placed and little resistance to
deformation. Some of the main properties of fresh
concrete are:
Properties of fresh concrete

► Workability
►  Consistency
►  Segregation
►  Bleeding
►  Air Entrainment
►  Setting time
►  Temperature
►  Plastic Shrinkage
1.1.1 Workability

► Workability is the measure of how easily the mixed

concrete can be transported and placed in
framework without problems like segregation.
Consistency can give an indication of workability.
1.1.2 Consistency

► It is the ability of a freshly mixed concrete to flow.

Consistency generally depends on amount of water
in concrete. It includes the entire range of fluidity
from the driest to the wettest possible mixtures. The
concrete slump test measures the consistency of
fresh concrete before it sets.
1.1.3 Segregation

► Segregation can be defined as the separation of the

constituent materials of concrete.
► A good concrete is one in which all the ingredients
are properly distributed to make a homogeneous
mixture.
► If a sample of concrete exhibits a tendency for
separation of say, coarse aggregate from the rest of
the ingredients, then, that sample is said to be
showing the tendency for segregation.
► Segregation may be of three types: Firstly, coarse
aggregate separating out or settling down from the
rest of the matrix, secondly, the paste or matrix
separating away from coarse aggregate and thirdly,
water separating out from the rest of the material
being a material of lowest specific gravity.
1.1.4 Bleeding
► It is a particular form of segregation, in which some
of the water from the comes out to the surface of
the concrete, being of the lowest specific gravity
among all the ingredients of concrete.
► Due to bleeding, water comes up and accumulates
at the surface. Sometimes, along with this water,
certain quantity of cement also comes to the
surface. When the surface is worked up the trowel
and floats, the aggregate goes down and the
cement and water come up to the top surface. This
formation of cement paste at the surface is known
as “Laitance”.
► In such a case, the top surface of slabs and
1.1.5 Setting time
► An arbitrary division has made for the setting time
of cement as initial setting time and final setting
time.
► Initial setting time is regarded as the time elapsed
between the moment that required for mixing,
transporting, placing, compacting and finishing.
During this time concrete should be in plastic state.
► Once the concrete is placed in the final position,
compacted and finished, it should lose its plasticity
in the earliest possible time so that it is least
vulnerable to damages from external destructive
agencies. This time should not be more than 10
hours which is often regarded as final setting time.
Initial and final setting time is measured using Vicat
1.1.6
►
Air Entrainment
It reduces the density of concrete and consequently
reduces the strength. Air entrainment is used to
produce a number of effects in both the plastic and
the hardened concrete. These include
►  Resistance to freeze-thaw action in the hardened
concrete.
►  Increased cohesion, reducing the tendency to
bleed and segregation in the
► plastic concrete.
►  Compaction of low workability mixes including
semi-dry concrete.
►  Stability of extruded concrete.
►  Cohesion and handling properties in bedding
1.1.7 Temperature

► Concrete is not recommended to be placed at a

temperature above 40 degree Celsius without
proper precautions.
► If the temperature of concrete is not controlled and
it goes beyond maximum range during hydration,
then stresses are produced, and cracks are formed
in concrete.
► Also, if the temperature falls below the minimum
temperature, then concrete takes a large time to
set, and the hydration process slows down.
WORKABILITY

► Workability is the measure of how easily the mixed

concrete can be transported and placed in framework
without problems like segregation.
► Workability is a parameter, a mix designer is required to
specify in the mix design process, with full understanding
of the type of work, distance of transport, loss of slump,
method of placing, and many other parameters involved.
WORKABILITY

► A concrete which has high consistency, and which is

more mobile, need not be of right workability for a
particular job. Every job requires a particular
workability. A concrete which is considered workable
for mass concrete foundation is not workable for
concrete to be used in roof construction, or even in
roof construction, concrete considered workable
when vibrator is used, is not workable when
concrete is to be compacted by hand.
Factors Affecting Workability

► The factors helping concrete to have more lubricating effect to

reduce internal friction
► for helping easy compaction are given below:
►  Water Content
►  Mix Proportions
►  Size of Aggregates
►  Shape of Aggregates
►  Surface Texture of Aggregate
►  Grading of Aggregate
►  Use of Admixtures
2.1.1 Water content
► Water content in a given volume of concrete, will
have significant influences on the workability. The
higher the water content per cubic meter of
concrete, the higher will be the fluidity of concrete,
which is one of the important factors affecting
workability.
► Quantity of water in the mixture up to certain
amount increases workability. It should be noted
that from the desirability point of view, increase of
water content is the last recourse to be taken for
improving the workability even in the case of
uncontrolled concrete. For controlled concrete one
cannot arbitrarily increase the water content.
2.1.2 Mix Proportions

► Aggregate/cement ratio is an important factor

influencing workability. The higher the
aggregate/cement ratio, the leaner is the concrete.
In lean concrete, less quantity of paste is available
for providing lubrication, per unit surface area of
aggregate and hence the mobility of aggregate is
restrained. On the other hand, in case of rich
concrete with lower aggregate/cement ratio, more
paste is available to make the mix cohesive and
fatty to give better workability.
2.1.3 Size of Aggregates

► The bigger the size of the aggregate, the less is the

surface area and hence less amount of water is
required for wetting the surface and less matrix or
paste is required for lubricating the surface to
reduce internal friction. For a given quantity of
water and paste, bigger size of aggregates will give
higher workability. The above, of course will be true
within certain limits.
2.1.4 Shape of Aggregates

► The shape of aggregates influences workability in

good measure. Angular, elongated or flaky
aggregate makes the concrete very harsh when
compared to rounded aggregates or cubical shaped
aggregates.
► Contribution to better workability of rounded
aggregate will come from the fact that for the given
volume or weight it will have less surface area and
less voids than angular or flaky aggregate. Not only
that, being round in shape, the frictional resistance
is also greatly reduced. This explains the reason
why river sand and gravel provide greater
2.1.4 Shape of Aggregates

► The importance of shape of the aggregate will be of

great significance in the case of present-day high
strength and high-performance concrete when we
use very low w/c in the order of about 0.25. We
have already talked about that in the years to come
natural sand will be exhausted or costly. One has to
go for manufactured sand. Shape of crushed sand
as available today is unsuitable but the modern
crushers are designed to yield well shaped and well
graded aggregates.
2.1.5 Surface Texture of Aggregates

► The influence of surface texture on workability is

again due to the fact that the total surface area of
rough textured aggregate is more than the surface
area of smooth rounded aggregate of same volume.
From the earlier discussions it can be inferred that
rough textured aggregate will show poor workability
and smooth or glassy textured aggregate will give
better workability. A reduction of inter particle
frictional resistance offered by smooth aggregates
also contributes to higher workability.
2.1.6 Grading of Aggregates

► This is one of the factors which will have maximum

influence on workability. A well graded aggregate is
the one which has least amount of voids in a given
volume. Other factors being constant, when the
total voids are less, excess paste is available to give
better lubricating effect.
► With excess amount of paste, the mixture becomes
cohesive and fatty which prevents segregation of
particles. Aggregate particles will slide past each
other with the least amount of compacting efforts.
The better the grading, the less is the void content
and higher the workability. The above is true for the
2.1.7 Use of Admixtures

► All the factors mentioned above, the most

import factor which affects the workability is
the use of admixtures. It is to be noted that
initial slump of concrete mix or what is
called the slump of reference mix should be
about 2 to 3 cm to enhance the slump many
fold at a minimum doze. One should
manupulate other factors to obtain initial
slump of 2 to 3 cm in the reference mix.
Without initial slump of 2 – 3 cm, the
workability can be increased to higher level
2.2 Measurement of Workability

► The following tests are commonly employed to

measure workability.

►  Slump Test
►  Compacting Factor Test
►  Flow Test
►  Kelly Ball Test
►  Vee Bee Consistometer Test.
Properties of Hardened
Concrete
Compressive Strength and Modulus of Elasticity

25
Modulus of Elasticity

26
The static modulus of elasticity for a material under tension or compression is given by the
slope of the stress- strain curve for concrete under uniaxial loading.

Since the curve for concrete is nonlinear, three methods for computing the modulus are used.
This has given rise to the three types of elastic moduli-

● Tangent Modulus
● Secant Modulus
● Chord Modulus

27
Tangent Modulus
● The tangent modulus is given by the slope of a line drawn tangent to the stress- strain
curve at any point on the curve.
● The tangent modulus also does not give a realistic value of modulus of elasticity for the
stress level much above or much below the point at which the tangent is drawn.
● The value of modulus of elasticity will be satisfactory only for stress level in the vicinity of
the point considered

28
29
Secant Modulus
● The secant modulus is given by the slope of a line drawn from the origin to a point on the
curve
● Most commonly used in practice is secant modulus.
● There is no standard method of determining the secant modulus. Sometime it is measured
at stresses ranging from 3 to 14 MPa or stress level of 15, 25, 33, or 50 per cent of
ultimate strength.
● The stress at which the secant modulus has been found out should always be stated (Since
the value of secant modulus decreases with increase in stress)

30
31
Chord Modulus
The chord modulus is given by the slope of a line drawn between two points on the stress-strain
curve

32
33
34
Non linearity of stress strain relationship
● Perhaps this is due to the development of micro cracks at the interface of the aggregate
and paste.
● Because of the failure of bond at the interface increases at a faster rate than that of the
applied stress, the stress-strain curve continues to bend faster than increase of stress.

35
36
Factors affecting Modulus of Elasticity
1. Strength of material
2. Aggregates
3. Testing Parameters

37
1. Strength of Concrete
● Modulus of elasticity of concrete increases approximately with the square root of the strength.
● The IS 456 of 2000 gives the Modulus of elasticity as

EC = 5000√fck

38
39
Modulus of Elasticity of Concrete of Different strengths

40
2. Aggregates
● Porosity seems to be the most important factor among coarse aggregates that affect
elastic modulus
● Because aggregate porosity determines its stiffness, which in turn controls the ability of
aggregate to restrain the matrix strain- Dense aggregates have a high elastic modulus
● In general, the larger the amount of coarse aggregate with a high elastic modulus in a
concrete mixture, the greater would be the modulus of elasticity of concrete.

41
3. Testing Parameters
● Regardless of mix proportions or curing age, concrete specimens that are tested in wet
conditions show about 15 percent higher elastic modulus than the corresponding
specimens tested in a dry condition.
● Compressive strength of the specimen behaves in the opposite manner; that is, the
strength is higher by about 15 percent when the specimens are tested in dry condition

42
Dynamic Modulus of Elasticity
● The value of E is found out by actual loading of concrete i.e., the static modulus of
elasticity does not truly represent the elastic behaviour of concrete due to the
phenomenon of creep.
● The elastic modulus of elasticity will get affected more seriously at higher stresses when
the effect of creep is more pronounced.

43
● The value of E found out by the method of velocity of sound or frequency of sound is
referred as dynamic modulus of elasticity, in contrast to the value of E found out by actual
loading of the specimen and from stress-strain relationship which is known as static
modulus of elasticity.
● The value of dynamic modulus of elasticity computed from ultrasonic pulse velocity
method is somewhat higher than those determined by static method.
● This is because the modulus of elasticity as determined by dynamic modulus is unaffected
by creep

44
The following equation can be used to find elastic modulus by this method:

Ed = Kn2 L2ρ
Here:

● Ed= dynamic modulus of elasticity

● K= constant
● n= resonant frequency
● L= length of specimen
● ρ = density of concrete

45
Compressive Strength of Concrete

46
Resistance of concrete against failure due to applied compressive load, generally taken
as the strength of 28 days old specimen when tested under compressive loads.

M – 20 grade
M = mix
20 = compressive strength (In MPa)

47
Compressive strength test

●Compressive strength of concrete is determined by a standard uniaxial compression

test. It is accepted universally as a general index of the concrete strength.

●It carries out on specimens cubical or in cylindrical in shape. In case of a cube, cubes of
size 15cm*15cm are commonly used.

48
49
Procedure

● Mix the concrete well and fill in the mold

● Mold must be tempered well to minimize any air voids in concrete
● These molds are opened after 24 hours and test specimens are soaked in water for
curing
● After an interval of 7 days, these specimens are tested using a compression tension
machine

50
● The load on the cube must be applied gradually at the rate
of 140kg/square meter per minute till the specimen fails
● Load at the failure of a cube divided by area of specimen
gives the compressive strength of concrete
● Compressive strength can be found using the equation:
● Compressive strength = load at failure
Cross sectional area of element

51
●The compressive strength of concrete is given in terms of the characteristic
compressive strength of 150 mm size cubes tested at 28 days ( fck ).

●The characteristic strength is defined as the strength of the concrete below which not
more than 5% of the test results are expected to fall. This concept assumes a normal
distribution of the strengths of the samples of concrete.

55
56
Factors affecting compressive strength

1. Characteristics and proportions of material

a. Water-cement ratio

b. Air entrainment

c. Cement type

d. Aggregate

e. Mixing water

f. Admixtures
2. Curing conditions

a. Time

b. Humidity

c. Temperature

3. Testing parameters

a. Specimen parameters

b. Loading conditions
 HARDENED CONCRETE

► Concrete once sets, looses its plasticity

and forms a solid mass which is known
as hardened concrete

1
 STRENGTH OF CONCRETE
Resistanc
STRENGT
H e to
FAILURE
CONCRETE ELEMENTS RESISTANCE TO THESE
CAN FAIL BY FAILURES
❑ COMPRESSION ❑ COMPRESSION STRENGTH

❑ TENSION ❑ TENSILE STRENGTH

❑ FLEXURE / BENDING ❑ FLEXURAL STRENGTH

2
SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH OF
CONCRETE
• Test is conducted
to indirectly find
the tensile strength
of concrete by
applying
compressive load

• Brazilian Test
3
 Compressive load applied

Tensile stresses develops along the

diameter

8l
► Figure: stress pattern in the cylinder
Split tensile strength
► P : Failure Load
► L : Specimen Length
► D : Diameter of Specimen
4
TEST PROCEDURE
1. Concrete specimen is placed in a compression testing machine
horizontally
2. Two bearing plates are kept at top and bottom of the specimen
3. Specimen is loaded till failure and with the failure load split tensile
strength is calculated
► P : Failure Load
► L : Specimen
Length
► D : Diameter of
Specimen

5
 FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF
CONCRETE
• The resistance of
concrete against
bending/flexural failure
is its flexural strength
• Used to find out
Modulus of Rupture,
which is the extreme
fibre stress at a
section in bending
6
LOADING METHODS

7
TEST PROCEDURE
1. Concrete is mixed and placed in the beam mould with standard
compaction by hand or by vibration
2. The beam is removed from the mould after the concrete sets and is
kept for curing
3. The beam after curing is taken out and the 1/3rd points are marked
on it
4. The beam is now placed on the loading machine, with the load
points coinciding with the markings drawn
5. Load is applied till failure and failure load ‘P’ is noted

8
 MODULUS OF RUPTURE(fb)
► ►

L : Beam span
a: Distance of the fracture b : width of the beam
from the nearest support d : depth of the beam

9
EFFECT OF WATER CEMENT RATIO
►

10
►
Abrams Equation ►
Feret Equation

11
12
 MATURITY CONCEPT OF CONCRETE

• Strength is a function of summation of product of time and

temperature. This summation is called maturity of concrete.

Maturity = Σ (time x temperature)

• Maturity is measured in degree centigrade hours (°C hrs) or degree
centigrade days (°Cdays).
• A sample of concrete cured at 18°C for 28 days is taken as fully
matured concrete. Its maturity would be equal to
28 x 24 x [18 – (–11)] = 19488°C h
However, in standard calculations the maturity of fully cured concrete is
taken as19,800°Ch..

13
14
CREEP
1

► The time dependent increase in strain of a solid body under constant or

controlled stress.
► The increase in strain under sustained stress.
► A relaxation of stress under a constant strain.
2

► The stress strain relationship of

concrete is not a straight line but a
curved one.
► Degree of curvature primarily
depends upon the intensity of stress
and time for which the load is acting.
► It shows that the relation between
stress and strain of concrete is a
function of time.
► The gradual increase in strain,
without increase in stress, with time
is due to creep.
Fig. 1 Stress/strain curves for cement paste,
aggregate and concrete
3
Fig. 2: Creep and recovery of a mortar specimen stored in air at a relative humidity of 95%, subjected to a
stress of 15Mpa and then unloaded
4
► If a member is loaded and if this load is sustained for some length of time and
then removed, the specimen instantaneously recovers the elastic strain.
► The magnitude of instantaneous recovery of elastic strain is less than the
magnitude of elastic strain on loading.
► With time, certain amount of creep strain is also recovered.
► About 15% of creep is only recoverable.
► The member will have certain amount of residual strain.
► This shows that creep is not a simply reversible phenomenon.
5
Measurement of Creep

► Creep is determined by measuring the

change with time in strain of a
specimen subjected to constant stress
and stored under appropriate
conditions.
► Creep continues for a very long time,
but the rate of creep decreases with
time.
► It is assumed that the creep continues
to assume a limiting value after an
infinite time under load.
► 26% of 20 year creep in 2 weeks
Fig. 3 Loading device for the measurement of
► 55% of 20 year creep in 3 months
creep under a constant stress ► 76% of 20 year creep in 1 year
6

► If Creep after 1 year is taken as unity, then the average value of creep at later ages
are;
► 1.14 after 2 years
► 1.20 after 5 years
► 1.26 after 10 years
► 1.33 after 20 years
► 1.36 after 30 years
7

► Under compressive stress, creep

measurement is associated with
shrinkage of concrete.
► To estimate magnitude of creep, a
companion specimen is always
placed at same temperature and
humidity condition and the shrinkage
of unloaded specimen is found.
► This is subtracted from the total
deformation of loaded member.
► Knowing the instantaneous elastic Fig. 4 Time dependent deformations in
deformation, the creep deformation concrete subjected to a sustained load
can be calculated.
FACTORS
8 AFFECTING CREEP

► Influence of Aggregate:
► Aggregate undergoes very little creep.
► It is really the paste which is responsible for the creep.
► However the aggregate influences the creep through a restraining effect on the
magnitude of creep.
► The paste which is creeping under load is restrained by aggregate which do
not creep.
► The stronger the aggregate the more is the restraining effect and hence the less
is the magnitude of creep.
► The grading, the shape, the maximum size of aggregate indirectly affect
the creep from the point of view of total aggregate content in the concrete.
► The modulus of elasticity of aggregates also affects creep.
► Higher the modulus of elasticity the less is the creep.
► Light weight aggregate shows substantially higher creep than normal
weight aggregate. This is because of lower modulus of elasticity.
9

► Influence of Mix Proportions:

► A poorer paste structure undergoes higher creep. Therefore, it can be said that
creep increases with increase in water/cement ratio.
► Creep is inversely proportional to the strength of concrete
► All factors which are affecting the water/cement ratio is also affecting the creep.
1
1 ► Influence of Age:
► Age at which a concrete members is loaded will have a predominant effect on
the magnitude of creep.
► Strength of concrete increases with age provided adequate curing is done,
therefore concrete loaded at later ages will creep less.
► The age effect continues for very long time due to higher bonding with CSH gel.
 EFFECTS
1 OF CREEP
2

► In reinforced concrete beams, creep increases the deflection with time and
may be a critical consideration in design.
► In reinforced concrete columns, creep results in gradual transfer of load from the
concrete to the reinforcement.
► Once the steel yields, any increase in load is taken by concrete, so that the full
strength of both the steel and the concrete is developed before failure takes place.
► In eccentrically loaded, very slender columns, creep increases the deflection
and can lead to buckling.
► In statically indeterminate structures and column and beam junctions creep
may relieve the stress concentrations induced by shrinkage, temperatures
changes or movement of support.
1
3►
In all concrete structures, creep reduces internal stresses due to non-uniform or
restrained shrinkage so that there is a reduction in cracking.
► In mass concrete structures such as dams creep is harmful and by itself may be a
cause of cracking in the interior of dams.
► In tall buildings the differential creep between inner and outer columns may cause
movement and cracking of partitions.
► Loss of prestress due to creep of concrete in prestressed concrete structure is well
known and provision is made for the loss of prestress in the design of such
structures.
 ● SHRINKAGE
CONTENTS ● FACTORS AFFECTING
SHRINKAGE
● PLASTIC SHRINKAGE
● DRYING SHRINKAGE

89
SHRINKAGE
● One of the most objectionable defects in concrete is the presence of
cracks, particularly in floors and pavements.
● The important factor that contribute to the cracks in floors and
pavements is that due to shrinkage.
● Thus it is difficult to make concrete which does not shrink and crack. It is
only a question of magnitude.

90
“The term shrinkage is loosely used to describe the various aspects of
volume changes in concrete due to loss of moisture at different stages due
to different reasons.”

Shrinkage can be classified as:

● Plastic shrinkage
● Drying shrinkage
● Autogeneous shrinkage
● Carbonation shrinkage

91
Factors affecting Shrinkage
❖ Relative humidity of ❖ Chemical composition of
atmosphere cement
❖ Time ❖ Presence of excessive fineness
❖ Water -cement ratio of the in aggregates.
concrete
Other factors such as
❖ Type of aggregates
❖ Admixtures ❖ Curing
❖ Temperature etc

92
Relative humidity of atmosphere

❏ If the concrete is placed in 100

percent relative humidity for any
length of time, there will not be any
shrinkage, instead there will be a
slight swelling.
❏ The graph shows that the magnitude
of shrinkage increases with time and
also with the reduction of relative
humidity.

93
Time
❏ The rate of shrinkage decreases rapidly with time.
❏ It is observed that 14 to 34 percent of the 20 year shrinkage
occurs in 2 weeks, 40 to 80 per cent of the 20 year shrinkage
occurs in 3 months and 66 to 85 per cent of the 20 year
shrinkage occurs in one year.

94
Water - cement ratio
❏ The richness of the concrete also
has a significant Influence on
shrinkage.
❏ It increases with the increase in the
water cement ratio.
❏ Greater the water quantity used in
the concrete mix, greater is the
shrinkage.
❏ Thus a wet mix has more shrinkage
than a dry mix which is otherwise
similar.
95
Type of aggregates Admixtures
❏ Aggregates with moisture ❏ The shrinkage increases
movement and low elastic with the addition of
modulus cause large shrinkage. accelerating admixtures due
❏ The rate of shrinkage generally
to the presence of calcium
decreases with the increase of the
chloride (CaCl2) in it and it
size of aggregates.
❏ It is found that concrete made can be reduced by lime
from sandstone shrinks twice than replacement.
that of concrete of limestone.

96
Chemical composition Presence of excessive
Of cement fineness in aggregates
❏ The chemical composition of ❏ The presence of excessive fines
cement used for concrete & such as silt, clay, and dust in
mortar also has some effect on aggregates has a considerable
shrinkage. effect on the extent of shrinkage
❏ Rapid hardening cement has in concrete.
greater shrinkage than ❏ Presence of fines increases
Ordinary Portland Cement. specific surface area of
aggregate and consequently the
water requirement.
97
 Curing Temperature
❏ Plays an important part in ❏ An important factor which
limiting shrinkage. influences the water
❏ If proper curing is started as requirement of concrete and
soon as the initial set has thus its shrinkage is the
taken place and it is temperature of fresh concrete.
continued for at least 7-10 ❏ Concreting done in mild winter
days shrinkage is have much less cracking
comparatively less. tendency than the concreting
done in hot summer months.

98
PLASTIC SHRINKAGE
&
DRYING SHRINKAGE

99
Plastic shrinkage
➔ Reduction in volume of concrete due to the loss of water by
evaporation from the surface of concrete or by the absorption
by aggregate or subgrade.
➔ Manifests soon after the concrete is placed in the forms.
➔ Cracks may appear at the surface or internally around the
aggregate or reinforcement.

100
➔ May occur due to high water-cement ratio, badly proportioned
concrete, rapid drying, greater bleeding, unintended vibration,
etc.
➔ Richer concrete undergoes greater plastic shrinkage.

Typical plastic shrinkage cracks due to rapid evaporation of water from hot
sun and drying wind.
101
Influence of cement content on plastic shrinkage
102
➔ Plastic shrinkage can be reduced using polyethylene sheeting,
revibrating the concrete in a controlled manner, using aluminium
powder, using expansive cement or shrinkage compensating
cement and reducing the use of unneeded high slump concrete and
over sanded mix.

103
Drying shrinkage
➔ Decrease in volume of hardened concrete due to the withdrawal of
water held in gel pores.
➔ Concrete made with smaller size aggregate shrinks more than
concrete made with bigger size aggregate.
➔ The magnitude of drying shrinkage is also a function of the fineness
of gel.
➔ Apart of the movement of water is irreversible and should be
distinguished from the reversible part or moisture movement.

104
➔ The irreversible part of shrinkage is associated with the formation
of additional physical and chemical bonds in the cement gel when
adsorbed water has been removed.
➔ If concrete which has been allowed to dry in air of a given relative
humidity is subsequently placed in water (or at a higher humidity),
it will swell due to absorption of water by the cement paste and not
all the initial drying shrinkage is recovered.

105
Moisture movement in concrete which has dried from age t₀ until age t and was then
re-saturated.

106
➔ The magnitude of cyclic moisture movement for alternative wetting
and drying depends upon the duration of the wetting and drying
periods.
➔ It also depends upon the range of relative humidity, composition of
the concrete and on the degree of hydration at the onset of initial
drying.

107
Moisture movement in concrete which has dried from age t₀ until age t and was
then subjected to cycles of drying and wetting.
108
 Autogenous Shrinkage

► In a conservative system i.e. where no

moisture movement to or from the
paste is permitted, when temperature
is constant some shrinkage may occur.
The shrinkage of such a conservative
system is known as a autogenous
shrinkage.
► Autogenous shrinkage is of minor importance
and is not applicable in practice to many
situations except that of mass of concrete in
the interior of a concrete dam.
► The magnitude of autogeneous shrinkage is
in the order of about 100×10^–6.
CARBONATION SHRINKAGE

► Carbon dioxide present in the

atmoshphere reacts in the presence of
water with hydrated cement.
► Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] gets
converted to calcium carbonate and also
some other cement compounds are
decomposed.
► Such a complete decomposition of
calcium compound in hydrated cement is
chemically possible even at the low
pressure of carbon dioxide in normal
atmoshphere.

► Carbonation penetrates beyond the

exposed surface of concrete only very
slowly.
► The rate increased of penetration of
carbon dioxide depends also on the
moisture content of the concrete and the
relative humidity of the ambient
medium.
► Carbonation is accompanied by an
increase in weight of the concrete and by
shrinkage
► Carbonation shrinkage is probably caused
by the dissolution of crystals of calcium
hydroxide and deposition of calcium
carbonate in its place.
► If depth of carbonation reaches upto
steel reinforcements, the steel becomes
liable for corrosion.
► Carbonation shrinkage is a phenomenon
very recently recognised.