- Author
- Geiker, M. R. | Bentz, D. P. | Jensen, O. M.
- Title
- Mitigating Autogeneous Shrinkage by Internal Curing.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD Aalborg Univ., Denmark
- Report
- Special Publication 218,
- Book or Conf
- High-Performance Structural Lightweight Concrete. American Concrete Institute Special Publication 218. Proceedings. 2004, Ries, J. P.; Holm, T. A., Editors, 143-148 p., 2004
- Keywords
- curing agents | shrinkage | deformation | cracking (fracturing) | aggregates | mortar | water supply | sand | autogenous deformation | cement hydration | lightweight aggregates | superabsorbent polymers
- Abstract
- The use of internal curing is a highly effective means of mitigating autogenous shrinkage in cement mortars (w/s=0.35, 8% silica fume). Two different sources of internal water supply are compared: 1) replacement of a portion of the sand by saturated low-density fine aggregate and 2) the addition of superabsorbent polymer particles (SAP). At equal water addition rates, the SAP system is seen to be more efficient in reducing autogenous shrinkage at later ages, most likely due to a more homogeneous distribution of the extra curing water within the three-dimensional mortar microstructure. A comparison of the water distribution in the different systems, based on computer modeling and direct observation of two-dimensional cross sections, is given.