Influence of early age volume changes on long-term concrete shrinkage

Volume changes can occur in concrete during the first 24 hr and are generally missed in laboratory shrinkage evaluations. Unfortunately these early age volume changes are present in real pavements and structures and can contribute to the cracking behavior of the concrete at later ages. Early age volume changes can occur in two forms: drying shrinkage before the start of curing and autogenous volume changes. Although these early age volume changes are often dismissed as being insignificant, recent work in Europe has identified magnitudes for early age volume changes of some concretes that are equal to or greater than 28-day drying shrinkage measurements. Expansions have also been identified in some cases. The results of some investigations of volume changes in concrete during the first 24 hr under both drying and nondrying conditions are presented. An example of potential long-term cracking under partially restrained conditions (concrete slab-on-grade modeled by a concrete ring cast around a hollow steel ring) is used to illustrate the magnitude of influence of early age volume changes on concrete cracking. Both test procedures employ nonstandard methods to quantify the cracking potential of concrete.