The influence of curing on restrained shrinkage cracking of bonded concrete overlays

The influence of seven practical curing regimes on restrained shrinkage cracking of bonded concrete overlays was investigated. The influence of the curing regimes on the individual material properties governing restrained shrinkage cracking and on the age at cracking and crack area of ring tests and composite overlay–substrate specimens was investigated for three laboratory-made mixes of differing strengths and one commercial repair mortar. The results of the experimental testing showed that curing influences all of the material properties governing restrained shrinkage cracking. Prolonged or more effective curing was shown to either delay or reduce the rate of shrinkage respectively (dependent on the curing method), increase the tensile strength and elastic modulus, and decrease the tensile relaxation. In general, prolonged or more effective curing was shown to have a positive influence on restrained shrinkage cracking by increasing the age and net age at cracking.     

Shrinkage cracking in Roman cement pastes and mortars

Roman cements were key materials used in the architecture of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Fine cracks, caused by restrained shrinkage during drying, are a distinct characteristic of all Roman cement stuccoes. Today, cracking has become an important barrier preventing broader acceptance of Roman cement as a material by the restoration and construction sector. Drying shrinkage and tensile properties of Roman cement pastes and mortars submitted to various curing and drying regimes were determined as key parameters controlling cracking. A higher volume of aggregate in the mortar mix and a moderate curing time produce optimum Roman cement mortars from the standpoint of reducing the risk of cracking. Fast drying produced significant microcracking due to moisture gradients and differential shrinkage across the specimens. Stress relaxation observed during the long-time loading of the materials reduced their vulnerability to cracking.     

Positive synergy between steel-fibres and rubber aggregates: Effect on the resistance of cement-based mortars to shrinkage cracking

Cement-based materials suffer from their low tensile strength and their poor straining capacity: they are sensitive to cracking, particularly shrinkage cracking. Enhancing the cracking resistance of cementitious materials is the challenge of a broad ongoing research programme. In this regard, the aim of the present work was the design of a cement composite exhibiting a high straining capacity before macrocracking localisation. It was assumed that incorporation of aggregates with low elastic modulus could be a solution. Actually rubber aggregates obtained from shredded non-reusable tyres were used, conferring an environmental interest on the study.After a previous contribution focusing on the basic mechanical properties of rubberised mortar, the purpose of this paper is to present the influence of rubber aggregates on the load-deflection relationship of mortar in flexure. The synergy between rubber aggregate substitution and metal-fibre reinforcement was also investigated. Despite the low strength and high shrinkage length change of rubberised mortars, ring-tests showed that the composite materials exhibited an enhanced resistance to shrinkage cracking. In this regard, a positive synergy effect between rubber aggregates and steel-fibres was evidenced: shrinkage cracking was delayed and when it occurred, multiple cracking with thinner crack openings was observed.     

Internal curing of high-performance concrete with pre-soaked fine lightweight aggregate for prevention of autogenous shrinkage cracking

The effectiveness of internal curing (IC) to reduce autogenous shrinkage cracking in high-performance concrete (HPC) was investigated using different levels of internal curing on four pairs of large-size prismatic HPC specimens tested simultaneously under free and restrained shrinkage. Internal curing was supplied by pre-soaked fine lightweight aggregate (LWA) as a partial replacement to regular sand. It was found that the use of 178 kg/m³ of saturated LWA in HPC, providing 27 kg/m³ of IC water, eliminated the tensile stress due to restrained autogenous shrinkage without compromising the early-age strength and elastic modulus of HPC. It was shown that the risk of concrete cracking could be conservatively estimated from the extent of free shrinkage strain occurring after the peak expansion strain that may develop at very early ages. Autogenous expansion, observed during the first day for high levels of internal curing, can significantly reduce the risk of cracking in concrete structures, as both the elastic and creep strains develop initially in compression, enabling the tensile strength to increase further before tensile stresses start to initiate later.     

纤维素醚和乳胶粉在商品砂浆中的作用

简述了商品砂浆在国内外的发展历史,讨论了纤维素醚和乳胶粉2种聚合物干粉在干混商品砂浆的作用,包括对砂浆的保水性、毛细孔吸水性、抗折强度、抗压强度、弹性模量、不同环境温度养护的粘结抗拉强度的影响.     

Modeling for prediction of restrained shrinkage effect in concrete repair

A general model of autogenous shrinkage caused by chemical reaction (chemical shrinkage) is developed by means of Arrhenius' law and a degree of chemical reaction. Models of tensile creep and relaxation modulus are built based on a viscoelastic, three-element model. Tests of free shrinkage and tensile creep were carried out to determine some coefficients in the models. Two-dimensional FEM analysis based on the models and other constitutions can predict the development of tensile strength and cracking. Three groups of patch-repaired beams were designed for analysis and testing. The prediction from the analysis shows agreement with the test results. The cracking mechanism after repair is discussed.     

Engineered cementitious composite with characteristic of low drying shrinkage

This paper reports a new class of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) with characteristics of low drying shrinkage, tight crack opening and high tensile strain capacity. Research emphasis is placed on the influence of different cementitious matrix on drying shrinkage, tensile property and early age cracking behavior of the composites. Experimental results show that drying shrinkage of the composite is greatly reduced as using the low shrinkage cementitious material in matrix, while the composite remains strain-hardening and multiple cracking characteristics. The measured drying shrinkage strain at 28 days is only 109 × 10^− 6 to 242 × 10^− 6 for low shrinkage ECCs. For traditional ECC, the shrinkage strain at 28 days is nearly 1200 × 10^− 6. The average tensile strain capacity after 28 days curing is 2.5% of the low shrinkage ECC with tensile strength of 4-5 MPa. Further, in the strain-hardening and multiple cracking stage, cracks with much smaller width compared to the traditional ECC are formed in the low shrinkage ECC.     

圆环法研究再生微粉混凝土收缩性能

采用圆环试验方法研究了再生微粉掺合料对混凝土收缩开裂趋势的影响,并测定了再生微粉混凝土早期干燥收缩性能。试验结果表明,圆环试验能给混凝土提供了完全的、均匀的约束,能合理评价混凝土抵抗自收缩和干燥收缩综合作用开裂的能力。再生微粉掺合料能明显降低混凝土收缩开裂趋势及干燥收缩性能;且微粉细度越大,再生微粉混凝土抗收缩抗裂性能越好。试验结合SEM试验结果,分析了再生微粉掺合料减小水泥基材料收缩开裂趋势的原因。     

Isobornyl methacrylate as diluent co-monomer on physical-mechanical properties of dental resin composites

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA) as a diluent co-monomer on the physical properties of experimental resins. Blends of bisphenol glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA) were formulated with triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and IBOMA in different wt%. The degree of conversion, flexural strength, elastic modulus, and ultimate tensile strength were determined. Immediate and 24 h volumetric shrinkage were calculated. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's tests (α = 0.05). Blends of Bis-GMA and IBOMA showed the lowest ultimate tensile strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus, degree of conversion, and immediate and 24 h volumetric shrinkage results. However, when IBOMA was used together with TEGDMA in blends of Bis-GMA, the resin composites showed best curing performance and high physical-mechanical properties. Thus, the IBOMA is as diluent co-monomer that can be used in dental resin composites to reduce the volumetric shrinkage.     

Metakaolin and fly ash alkali-activated mortars compared with cementitious mortars at the same strength class

Alkali-activated and cementitious mortars belonging to R1 ≥ 10 MPa, R2 ≥ 15 MPa and R3 ≥ 25 MPa strength classes were tested and compared in terms of workability, dynamic modulus of elasticity, porosimetry, and water vapor permeability. Capillary water absorption, drying shrinkage, resistance to sulfate attack, and corrosion behavior of embedded bare and galvanized reinforcements were also investigated.In alkali-activated mortars, drying shrinkage is higher than that of cementitious mortars but restrained shrinkage is lower due to lower modulus of elasticity. Pore dimensions affect water vapor permeability, more pronounced in alkali-activated mortars, and capillary water absorption, much lower in fly ash ones. The high alkalinity of fly ash and metakaolin mortars delayed the achievement of the passive state in particular for the galvanized reinforcements but after 1 month of curing they reached the same corrosion rates of those embedded in cementitious mortars.     

Autogenous and drying shrinkage of alkali-activated slag mortars

Shrinkage of alkali-activated slag (AAS) cement is a critical issue for its industrial application. This study investigated the mechanisms and effectiveness of shrinkage-reducing agent (SRA) and magnesia expansive agent on reducing autogenous and drying shrinkage of AAS mortars that were activated by liquid sodium silicate (LSS) solution with modulus (SiO₂/Na₂O molar ratio) of 0-1.5. The results showed that the autogenous shrinkage of AAS mortars increased with the increase of LSS modulus from 0 to 0.5, then decreased as modulus increased up to 1.5. The drying shrinkage consistently increased with the increase in the modulus of LSS. The oxyalkylene alcohol-based SRA could significantly reduce the autogenous and drying shrinkage of AAS mortars while the magnesia expensive agent was comparatively less effective. The autogenous shrinkage of AAS mortars was inversely proportional to the internal relative humidity, while the drying shrinkage was more related to the mass loss of samples. Mathematical models were established to describe the autogenous and drying shrinkage behavior of AAS mortars.     

Early-age elastic properties of cement-based materials as a function of decreasing moisture content

The moisture content is of particular relevance in cement-based materials, as it has a strong impact on their fundamental material properties. For example, it directly affects their strength and elastic properties, which in turn are closely related to volumetric deformations and cracking susceptibility. This paper investigates the influence of the decreasing moisture content on the elastic properties at early-ages, when the material properties are still developing simultaneously to the drying process. Mortar mixtures containing either Portland cement or cement blended with slag were specifically designed to halt the hydration at predefined stages without altering the microstructure or promoting further hydration during drying (equivalent systems). The elastic modulus of the equivalent mortars as a function of the moisture content is measured through resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. At early age the elastic modulus remained constant during drying, while at later ages a steady reduction was observed as a function of the decreasing relative humidity.     

Shrinkage cracking of lightweight concrete made with cold-bonded fly ash aggregates

Shrinkage cracking performance of lightweight concrete (LWC) has been investigated experimentally on ring-type specimens. LWCs with and without silica fume were produced at water-cementitious material ratios (w/cm) of 0.32 to 0.55 with cold-bonded fly ash coarse aggregates and natural sand. Coarse aggregate volume ratios were 30%, 45%, and 60% of the total aggregate volume in the mixtures. A total of 12 lightweight aggregate concrete mixtures was cast and tested for compressive strength, static elastic modulus, split-tensile strength, free shrinkage, weight loss, creep, and restrained shrinkage. It was found that the crack opening on ring specimens was wider than 2 mm for all concretes. Free shrinkage, weight loss, and maximum crack width increased, while compressive and split-tensile strengths, static elastic modulus, and specific creep decreased with increasing coarse aggregate content. The use of silica fume improved the mechanical properties but negatively affected the shrinkage performance of LWCs. Shrinkage cracking performance of LWCs was significantly poorer than normal weight concrete (NWC).     

水泥基体参数对水泥砂浆干缩性能的影响

采用干缩实验研究水灰比、灰砂比、水泥细度等水泥基体参数对水泥浆干缩性能的影响。结果表明,水灰比在0.35～0.60时,砂浆的干缩率随水灰比增大而增大;其它条件不变时,砂浆的干缩率随胶砂比增大而明显增大,随水泥细度提高而增大;高标号水泥的干缩率大于低标号水泥,水泥标号相同时,P.II>P.F>P.S;矿渣微粉比粉煤灰更适用于生产高性能水泥和高性能混凝土;减缩剂能明显减小水泥砂浆的干缩率。     

一种回转体类构件用中低温固化环氧树脂体系研究

采用等温黏度实验和浇铸体力学性能测试来优选自制改性固化剂CUR–1的配比,通过不同升温速率下的固化过程差示扫描量热并对固化物进行傅立叶变换红外光谱分析,确定了体系的固化制度,研制出一种适用于发动机壳体或结构复杂的回转体类结构件的碳纤维湿法缠绕树脂基复合材料的中低温固化环氧树脂体系,用湿法缠绕工艺制作单向纤维缠绕成型复合材料环(NOL环)并进行了性能测试。结果表明:当CUR–1的含量为15份时,树脂体系具有适于湿法缠绕工艺的黏度和使用期,树脂可在80℃完全固化,同时浇铸体拉伸强度为84 MPa,拉伸弹性模量为3.8 GPa,断裂伸长率为5.4%,热变形温度为131℃。该树脂体系与纤维粘结性好,NOL环力学性能高,NOL环拉伸强度为2 451 MPa,拉伸弹性模量为146 GPa,层剪切强度为55 MPa。     

Effect of temperature and aging on the mechanical properties of concrete: Part I. Experimental results

This paper reports the results of curing temperature and aging on the strength and elastic modulus and the Part II paper suggests a prediction model based on these experimental results. Tests of 480 cylinders made of Types I, V, and V cement+fly ash concretes, cured in isothermal conditions of 10, 23, 35, and 50 °C and tested at the ages of 1, 3, 7, and 28 days are reported. According to the experimental results, concretes subjected to high temperatures at early ages attain higher early-age compressive and splitting tensile strengths but lower later-age compressive and splitting tensile strengths than concretes subjected to normal temperature. Even though the elastic modulus has the same tendency, the variation of elastic modulus with curing temperature is not so obvious as compressive strength. Based on the experimental result, the relationships among compressive strength, elastic modulus, and splitting tensile strength are analyzed, considering the effects of curing temperature, aging, and cement type.     

内养护对不同细度水泥制备的砂浆性能的影响

研究了饱和轻骨料内养护对不同细度水泥配制的砂浆自收缩、强度、水化程度、显微硬度以及界面过渡区形貌等的影响。结果发现：内养护可显著降低不同细度水泥配制的砂浆的早期自收缩,但减缩效果随着水泥比表面积增大而降低;内养护的砂浆后期自收缩仍持续增加,水泥越粗,自收缩后期增长越大;内养护能够显著促进水泥早期水化,这种促进作用在细水泥中最显著。在相同条件下,轻骨料的引入对砂浆强度的影响作用与水泥细度有关;显微硬度以及界面过渡区微观形貌结果显示,轻骨料内养护能显著改善粗水泥体系微观结构,对细水泥体系微观结构的改善则无显著贡献。     

Study of cracking due to drying in coating mortars by digital image correlation

Drying shrinkage of coating mortars may induce cracks which could result in debonding and reduce the durability of the ‘mortar/substrate’ system. In order to study this phenomenon, a new device based on digital image correlation (DIC) was developed so as to measure 2D displacement fields on mortars and substrates at early age in drying conditions. Compared to intrusive methods (e.g. SEM observation, embedded rigid sensor) or impregnation techniques, the proposed device does not induce parasite cracks and specimen can be monitored continuously and automatically. Moreover, representative geometries and restraint conditions can be tested. A post-processing tool is proposed to determine the evolution of the cracking patterns by computing an equivalent strain. Besides, this enables the quantification of the widths and the depths of cracks inside the mortar and at the mortar/substrate interface. The device was validated by comparison with measurements of drying shrinkage using LVDT and investigations with an optical microscope. It was used successfully to analyze drying shrinkage cracking of coating mortars due to restraint by a rigid substrate.     

Constitutive Model for Predicting Ultimate Drying Shrinkage of Concrete

A constitutive model is derived from theory of elasticity for predicting ultimate drying shrinkage of concrete. The model was extended by incorporating the semiempirical composite model proposed by Hirsch and Dougill for predicting Young's modulus of concrete. Their composite model is the geometric mean of Paul's upper and lower limit boundaries of a two-phase composite. According to the shrinkage model the parameters needed for predicting ultimate drying shrinkage of concrete at any relative humidity of drying are the following: ultimate shrinkage of a paste of same water-to-cement (W/C; ratio and degree of hydration as the concrete, relative volume of aggregates and unhydrated cement, and the elastic properties of hydrated paste and the particles. The shrinkage model was tested on shrinkage results obtained in this study and by Pickett. Three different W/C ratios were covered together with a wide range in aggregate contents. Excellent agreement with the results was found.     

Mechanical and interfacial properties of phenolic composites reinforced with treated cellulose fibers

Cellulose fiber‐reinforced phenolic composites were prepared and characterized by mechanical tests and morphological analysis in this study. First, preparation of the phenolic matrix was optimized using an experimental design. The variables studied were curing temperature and time. The responses measured were strength, elongation, modulus, and strain energy density, in tensile and flexural tests. After fixing the optimal curing conditions of the matrix at 75°C and 2.75 h, the effect of a latest drying stage was studied. Strengths in tensile and flexural tests of the matrix after the incorporation of the drying stage were 156 and 189% of the strengths of the undried matrix, and elastic moduli were three‐fold. Finally, cellulose fibers were incorporated as reinforcement. Alkali treatment of the fibers (1 and 5% NaOH), employment of silanes as coupling agents [(3‐aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APS) and 3‐(2‐aminoethylamino) propyltrimethoxysilane (AAPS)], and combined treatments alkali‐silane were tested. The AAPS silane treated cellulose fiber‐reinforced phenolic composite was the material with the best mechanical performance and adhesion fiber–matrix. The most significant improvements obtained with the AAPS silane treatment of the fibers were 25, 52, and 110% for tensile strength, elongation, and SED, respectively, in relation to the unreinforced material properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2228–2238, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers