Shrinkage Cracking -- Can It Be Prevented?

Abstract

As concrete dries it shrinks. When concrete is prevented from shrinking freely, tensile stresses develop. The combination of high tensile stresses and low fracture resistance of concrete often results in cracking. This study consists of three main phases: development of test methods to assess the potential for cracking, determination of the influence of different material constituents on cracking, and development of theoretical models to predict the cracking potential of different concrete mixes. This research is focused primarily on drying shrinkage, which is critical in structures with a large surface area exposed to drying: highway pavements, bridge decks, walls, and industrial floors.