CONTROLLING

DRYING SHRINKAGE
OF CONCRETE
 OVERVIEW

z What is Drying Shrinkage?

z Causes & Factors Affecting Shrinkage
z Why the Concern?
z Mechanisms for Reducing Shrinkage
z Project Summary
 SHRINKAGE

Volume Reduction due to Loss of

Moisture from Matrix as it Hardens
and Dries.
TYPES OF SHRINKAGE

z PLASTIC SHRINKAGE
z THERMAL CONTRACTION
z DRYING SHRINKAGE
z AUTOGENOUS SHRINKAGE
z CARBONATION SHRINKAGE
 DRYING SHRINKAGE

Volume Reduction in Hardened

Concrete Primarily Due to Moisture
Loss as the Matrix Dries.
Where Does the Excess
Water Come From?
 Concrete

z Cement or Other Binder

z Fine & Coarse Aggregates
z Water
z Admixtures
z Fibers
 Consumption of Water
in Concrete
z Cement hydrates to form C-S-H gel,
binder that holds matrix together.

z Water is also adsorbed by hydrated

cement paste.
(Thickness of layer affected by Humidity)

AND YET STILL, ………...

There is…….
Free Water !!!
Relative Volumes of Cement and Water at
Different Water-Cement Ratios

3.5
R elative V olu m e

Cement Water
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70
Water-Cement Ratio
 Drying of Matrix

Drying will occur if Relative

Humidity is less than 100% !!!
Loss of Moisture from
Matrix during Drying

zFREE WATER

zADSORBED WATER
 Mechanism of Drying Shrinkage

z Capillary Tension appears to be the

dominant mechanism in drying shrinkage.
(Kondo, 1965). Stress upon drying is
related to the surface tension of pore water.
 DRYING SHRINKAGE
MECHANISM

z Loss of moisture
 DRYING SHRINKAGE
MECHANISM

z Loss of moisture

z Meniscus forms at
air-water interface
due to surface tension
 DRYING SHRINKAGE
MECHANISM

Capillary
z Surface tension forces Tension
exert inward pulling
force on the walls of
the pores

z Most significant in
pore sizes ranging
from 2.5-50 nm
Magnitude of Drying Shrinkage

z 28 Day
 Typically0.040 - 0.055%
 Range: 0.025 - 0.080%

z Long Term
 Typically
0.08%*
 Range: Low: 0.04% High: 0.12%

(* also expressed as 800 millionths or 800 microstrains)

Factors Affecting Drying
Shrinkage
z Mixture Ingredients
(especially, Water & Coarse Aggregate)

z Design & Construction Practices

z Environmental Influences
 Effect of Water Content on
Drying Shrinkage
0.16
DRYING SHRINKAGE

0.14
0.12
0.10
(%)

0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00
125 150 175 200 225 250 275

WATER CONTENT (kg/m3)

Relative Volumes of Cement and Water at
Different Water-Cement Ratios

3.5
R elative V olu m e

Cement Water
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70
Water-Cement Ratio
 Factors Affecting
Drying Shrinkage of Concrete

z Mixture Ingredients
(especially, Water & Coarse Aggregate)

z Design & Construction Practices

z Environmental Influences
 Effect of Coarse Aggregate on
Drying Shrinkage

zProvides Restraining Effect.

zHigh Coarse Aggregate Content will

minimize Total Water and Paste Content
and, therefore, Drying Shrinkage.
 Effect of Coarse Aggregate Content
on Drying Shrinkage
0.14
DRYING SHRINKAGE (%)

0.12
0.10 a/c = 3
0.08 a/c = 4
a/c = 5
0.06 a/c = 6
0.04 a/c = 7
0.02
0.00
0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
WATER-CEMENT RATIO
Effect of Coarse Aggregate on
Drying Shrinkage

Dependent on Aggregate:
z TYPE
z STIFFNESS
z AMOUNT
z TOPSIZE
 Effect of Construction
Practices on Drying Shrinkage

z Excess water will increase drying

shrinkage.

z Curing will delay drying shrinkage.

¾Allows for Adequate Strength Development
before Onset of Drying
 Effect of Environment on
Drying Shrinkage
MAGNITUDE DEPENDENT ON:
zRELATIVE HUMIDITY
zTIME
Data from 30-year Study
50% of drying shrinkage at 20 years
occurred within 2 months of drying;
80% within first year !!!
 Shrinkage
Test Methods
 Shrinkage Test Method

z ASTM C 157

Length Change of Hardened Hydraulic-

Cement Mortar and Concrete
Shrinkage Test Methods

z ASTM C 157
Length Change of Hardened
Hydraulic-Cement Mortar and Concrete

z ICRI Modification
Shrinkage Test Methods
ASTM C 157
z 3 or 4 in. x 111/4 in. Prisms

z Demold @ 231/2 + 1/2 h

z Initial Reading @ 24 + 1/2 h

z Lime-Saturated Water Storage; Second

Reading @ 28 days

z Subsequent Readings @ 4, 7, 14 & 28 days;

8, 16, 32 and 64 weeks (air storage)
 Shrinkage Test Methods
ASTM C 157
Length Change, %

Expansion

Shrinkage

Test Age
 Shrinkage Test Methods
ASTM C 157, ICRI Modification

z 3 or 4 in. x 111/4 in. Prisms

z Demold @ 231/2 + 1/2 h (3 h for RHM); Take

Initial Reading

z AIR CURE

z Subsequent Readings @ 4, 7, 14, 28 & 56 days;

For Prisms > 1 in., until 90% of Ultimate Drying
Shrinkage (ASTM C 596)
 Shrinkage Test Methods
ASTM C 157, ICRI Modification
Length Change, %

Expansion

Shrinkage

Test Age
Shrinkage Test Methods
SUMMARY
z Various Tests Available

z Specimen Size, Initial Reading &

Curing

Critical to End Results

z USE APPROPRIATE METHOD

FOR INTENDED APPLICATION
Why the Concern?
 DRYING SHRINKAGE
Why the Concern?
z Cracking
Durability
Serviceability

z Curling

z Loss of Prestress, etc.

Typical Repair Scenario

Repair

Substrate
Typical Repair Scenario

Repair
Repair

Substrate
Typical Repair Scenario

Repair
Repair

Substrate

Matrix and Bond Line Stressed

Typical Repair Scenario
Delamination

Repair
Repair

Substrate

Matrix and Bond Line Stressed

Concrete / Repair Mortar

Matrix is …….
zStrongin Compression
zWeak in Tension
Repair Scenario …..
Delamination

Crack

Repair
Repair

Substrate

Matrix and Bond Line Stressed

Typical Repair Scenario
Delamination

Crack

Repair
Repair

Substrate

Matrix and Bond Line Stressed

 Drying Shrinkage

RESTRAINT WILL:
zInduce Tensile Stresses within Matrix;

zResult in CRACKING if Induced Tensile

Stresses Exceed Tensile Strength of Material;

zProvide Benefit with Shrinkage-Compensated

Systems (mechanism dependent).
dependent)
 Drying Shrinkage
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Magnitude, % Classification
< 0.025 Very Low
0.025 - 0.05 Low
0.05 - 0.10 Moderate
> 0.10 High
Corps of Engineers
 REPAIR MATERIAL SHRINKAGE TEST RESULTS

0.30 3,000

Shrinkage, millionths
0.25 2,500

0.20 2,000
% Shrinkage

0.15 1,500

0.10 1,000

0.05 500

0 0
very
low low moderate high
0.025% 0.05% 0.10%
Increased tendency to crack
 Drying Shrinkage
CRACKING

f (% drying shrinkage, elastic modulus,

creep coefficient, tensile strength,
shear bond strength, etc.)
Minimizing Drying
Shrinkage of
Concrete
Reducing Drying Shrinkage

z Lower Cement & Water Contents

z Increase Coarse Aggregate Content

& Topsize

z Shrinkage Compensation

z Shrinkage-Reducing Admixtures
 Shrinkage-Reducing
Admixtures

A New Solution for

an Age Old Problem
 Shrinkage-Reducing
Admixtures
♦ First SRA developed in 1982; U.S. patent
awarded in 1985.
• Main component is polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether,
a lower alcohol alkyleneoxide adduct.

♦ SRA with similar base composition patented

in U.S. in 1996.
 DRYING SHRINKAGE
MECHANISM

Capillary
z Surface tension forces Tension
exert inward pulling
force on the walls of
the pores

z Most significant in
pore sizes ranging
from 2.5-50 nm
Shrinkage-Reducing Admixtures
MECHANISM
Reduced
Capillary
Tension
z Reduce capillary
tension by reducing
surface tension of
water
Mechanism of Drying Shrinkage

z Capillary Tension appears to be the

dominant mechanism in drying shrinkage.
(Kondo, 1965). Stress upon drying is
related to the surface tension of pore water.

z Addition of SRA lowers the surface tension

of the pore water.
 SRA Admixtures
z TETRAGUARD shrinkage-reducing
admixtures
TETRAGUARD AS20, liquid
TETRAGUARD PW, powder

z Offer a practical approach to combat drying

shrinkage.
– Dosage: 0.5% - 4.0%, most typical dosage is 1-2%.
 Effect of TETRAGUARD
on Drying Shrinkage
DAYS OF DRYING
0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56
0.00
LENGTH CHANGE (%)

-0.01
-0.02
-0.03
-0.04
-0.05
-0.06
Control SRA-M3 @ 2 L/m3 SRA-M3 @ 4 L/m3
SRA-M3 @ 6 L/m3 SRA-M3 @ 8 L/m3
 Effect of TETRAGUARD
on Drying Shrinkage
DAYS OF DRYING
0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56
LENGTH CHANGE (%)

0.00
-0.01
-0.02
-0.03
-0.04
-0.05
-0.06
Control SRA-M3 @ 0.4 gal/yd3
SRA-M3 @ 0.8 gal/yd3 SRA-M3 @ 1.2 gal/yd3
SRA-M3 @ 1.6 gal/yd3
 Effect of TETRAGUARD Dosage
on Drying Shrinkage at 28 Days
60

50
DRYING SHRINKAGE (%)
REDUCTION IN

40

30

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10

SRA DOSAGE (L/m3)

 Primary Benefits of
TETRAGUARD SRA Admixtures

♦Reduced DRYING
SHRINKAGE

Reduced drying
shrinkage cracking

Improved aesthetics,
watertightness and
durability
Secondary Benefits of
TETRAGUARD Admixtures

♦ Reduced CURLING
Reduces stresses induced
from one-dimensional surface
drying in concrete floors.

Using 2% SRA, 28 day curling

was reduced by:
45% at 0.45 w/cm
60% at 0.55 w/cm
 SRAs Reduce Curling

z In paste studies, curling deformation was

reduced by 60% at 90 days when using
SRAs at 2% in 0.40 w/c concrete.
 Effect of SRAs on
Plastic Properties of Concrete

z SRA products may increase bleed time

and bleed ratio (10% higher).

z SRA products may also delay final set

by 1-2 hours.
 Effect of SRAs on
Hardened Properties of Concrete

z Reduction in Compressive Strength.

Ê Typically, early age strengths reduced by
5-15%.
Ê Late-age (> 56 days) strength reductions
may be less.
 SRA Applications
♦ Transportation
Systems
♦ Floors and Walls
♦ Tunneling
♦ Sewer and Water
Treatment Facilities
♦ Restoration and
Rehabilitation
♦ Shotcrete
♦ Full-depth Repair
Burbank Water Treatment Facility
Burbank, CA
 Design Considerations
for Liquid Containment Structure
• Recommendations from ACI 350 for watertight
structures were specified:
– Maximized aggregate size, low w/cm of 0.45,
compressive strength of 4000 psi and drying
shrinkage of 0.042% at 28 days.

• Producer needed pumpable mix with 7±1 in.

slump for placement and consolidation around
restraint and had problems meeting drying
shrinkage specification with aggregates.
Watertightness of Structures
ACI 350 Recommends:
z Well proportioned and consolidated concrete
Maximum 0.45 w/c, low permeability
z Minimization of crack widths
z Proper joint spacing
z Impervious protective coatings or barriers
z Provision of adequate reinforcement
 Concrete Mixture Proportions
Burbank Water Treatment Facility
Materials Control Mix 2 Mix 3 Mix 4
Type II Cement, lb/yd3 649 649 649 649
Sand, lb/yd3 1289 1289 1289 1289
3/8” Aggregate, lb/yd3 334 334 334 334
1” Aggregate, lb/yd3 1432 1432 1432 1432
Total Water, lb/yd3 292 292 292 292
Water/Cement Ratio 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45

Admixtures
Superplasticizer, fl oz/cwt 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
Air Entrainer, fl oz/cwt 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40
SRA, gal/yd3 0.0 0.50 0.75 1.0
 Hardened Concrete Properties
Burbank Water Treatment Facility
Average Compressive Strength (psi)
Mixture 1-day 3-day 7-day 28-day
Reference 2340 4270 4740 4900
Mixture 2 2640 3770 5210 5860
Mixture 3 2670 4690 5100 6210
Mixture 4 2890 4650 5410 6450

Average Length Change, % (negative sign denotes shrinkage)

Mixture 7-day 14-day 21-day 28-day
Reference -0.023 -0.033 -0.044 -0.049
Mixture 2 -0.011 -0.018 -0.027 -0.034
Mixture 3 -0.009 -0.014 -0.024 -0.028
Mixture 4 -0.007 -0.012 -0.020 -0.023
Los Angeles, CA, Metro Rail
(Red Line)
Cast-in-Place
Tunnel Lining
 Design Considerations for Tunnel

z Tunnel path located in unstable stratum of friable

sandstone with high permeability.
z Erosion from groundwater infiltration.
z Environmental concerns of potential groundwater
contamination due to strata porosity.
Monolithic tunnel lining proposed with low
permeability and 0.040% drying shrinkage
Concrete Mixture Proportions
Metro Rail Red Line
Materials Quantity
Type II Cement, lb/yd3 700
Class F pozzolan, lb/yd3 123
Sand, lb/yd3 1242
3/8” Aggregate, lb/yd3 243
1” Aggregate, lb/yd3 1544
Total Water, lb/yd3 267
Water/Cementitious Materials 0.32
Admixtures
Superplasticizer, fl oz/cwt 5.0
Water Reducer, fl oz/cwt 8.0
Hydration Control, fl oz/cwt 1.0 - 8.0
SRA, gal/yd3 0.75
 Hardened Concrete Properties
Metro Rail Red Line Mixtures
Average Compressive Strength (psi)
Mixture Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Average
7-day 6170 6070 6260 6170
28-day 7060 7290 7460 7270
Average Length Change, % (negative sign denotes shrinkage)
Mixture Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Average
5 days -0.000 -0.001 -0.000 -0.000
7 days -0.001 -0.001 -0.000 -0.001
14 days -0.011 -0.001 -0.010 -0.007
21 days -0.013 -0.008 -0.013 -0.011
28 days -0.020 -0.013 -0.019 -0.017
Dupont Circle Parking Garage
Washington, D.C.
 Design Considerations and
Concerns for Full Depth Repair
z Impact of drying shrinkage on dimension behavior
of repaired concrete.
– Substrate has experienced most of its time-dependent
volume changes such as drying shrinkage and creep.
– The repair concrete will undergo volume changes
after placement.
z Repair must be durable so that it can resist
structural loading and environmental factors
without degradation and deterioration.
 Concrete Mixture Proportions
Dupont Circle Parking Garage
Materials Reference SRA Treated
Type II Cement, lb/yd3 705 705
Sand, lb/yd3 1428 1428
3/8” Aggregate, lb/yd3 1650 1650
Total Water, lb/yd3 282 282
Water/Cement 0.40 0.40
Admixtures
Superplasticizer, fl oz/cwt 8.0 8.0
Water Reducer, fl oz/cwt 3.0 3.0
Air Entrainer, fl oz/cwt 0.70 1.50
Calcium Nitrite
Corrosion Inhibitor, gal/yd3 3.0 3.0
SRA, gal/yd3 0.0 1.5
Comparison Testing of In-Situ
and Laboratory Specimens
 ASTM C157 Shrinkage Data from
Laboratory and Field Specimens (µstrain)

Reference Specimens
28-day 115-day 320-day 474-day
Laboratory Average -663 -917 -1003 -1063
Field Average -653 -870 -950 -1023

SRA-Treated Specimens
28-day 115-day 320-day 474-day
Laboratory Average -420 -630 -720 -777
Field Average -370 -620 -700 -747
 ASTM C 157 Shrinkage Data for
Dupont Circle Full-Depth Repair
100
0
-100
-200
Length Change (µ strain)

-300
-400
-500
-600
-700
-800
-900
-1000
-1100
-1200
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Test Age (days)
Reference - Lab Reference - Field SRA - Lab SRA - Field
 In-Situ Volume Change Data
Reference Repair SRA Repair
Age Vertical Vertical
Date (days) (µstrain) (µstrain)
9/25/98 0 0 0
9/26/98 1 -91.35 -65.23
9/28/98 3 -98.68 -65.58
10/23/98 28 -196.43 -92.66
01/18/99 115 -348.57 -160.61
08/11/99 320 -586.24 -297.73
01/12/2000 474 -688.46 -361.82

Temperature and Relative Humidity Measurements in Garage

Date 9/26/98 9/28/98 10/23/98
Dry Bulb (F) 78 78 55
Wet Bulb (F) 69 72 45
Relative humidity (%) 64 74 45
 In-Situ Shrinkage Data for
Dupont Circle Full-Depth Repair
0
Shrinkage (microstrain)

-200

-400

-600

-800
Reference SRA

-1000
0 100 200 300 400 500
Test Age (Days)
Shrinkage Reduction with SRA
60
ASTM C157
% Reduction in Drying Shrinkage

In situ
50

40

30

20

10

0
28 Days 474 Days
Drying Shrinkage Test Comparison
70

SRA
In situ / Laboratory Shrinkage

60
Reference
50

40

30

20

10

0
28 Days 474 Days
 Sketch of Cracks Found in
Repairs After Fifteen Months

Reference
Instrumentation
Hairline cracks in
Light Fixture Conduit Below
repair visible from
below Below

Panel
Below

SRA Treated
Dry-Mix Shotcrete Proportions
Materials Control Mix 2 Mix 3

Type 1 Cement, lb/yd3 674 674 674

Silica Fume, lb/yd3 76 76 76
Fly Ash, lb/yd3 50 50 50
Coarse Aggregate, 3/8-1 in 758 758 758
Sand, lb/yd3 2040 2040 2040
Total Water*, lb/yd3 303 303 303

Admixtures
TETRAGUARD PW, lb/yd3 0.0 13.5 27.0

*Estimate
Wet-Mix Shotcrete Proportions
Materials Control Mix 2 Mix 3

Type 1 Cement, lb/yd3 679 681 684

Silica Fume, lb/yd3 76 76 76
Fly Ash, lb/yd3 50 50 50
Coarse Aggregate, 3/8-1 in 850 851 856
Sand, lb/yd3 1918 1923 1933
Total Water, lb/yd3 320 292 273

Admixtures
TETRAGUARD AS20, gal/yd3 0.0 2.10 4.22
 Effect of TETRAGUARD
Admixtures on Compressive Strength
(Dosage by mass of cement)
AS20 Control 1% 2%

7 Day 33.5 (4860) 28.5 (4130) 38.7 (5611) MPa (psi)

28 Day 56.6 (8210) 52.9 (7670) 52.0 (7540) MPa (psi)

PW Control 2% 4%

7 Day 42.6 (6180) 42.2 (6120) 35.0 (5080) MPa (psi)

28 Day 55.5 (8050) 54.7 (7930) 46.7 (6770) MPa (psi)
TETRAGUARD AS20 in Wet Shotcrete
0
Average Length Change

-200

-400
(Microstrain)

-600

-800

-1000

-1200
0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84 91 98
Drying Age (Days)
Control 1% SRA 2% SRA
TETRAGUARD PW in Dry Shotcrete
0

-100
Average Length Change (Microstrain)

-200

-300

-400

-500

-600

-700
0 7 14 21 28
Drying Age (Days)

Control 2% Powdered SRA 4% Powdered SRA

 Additional Findings
z Enhanced Tensile Bond Strength
z Decreased Volume of Permeable Voids
z TETRGUARD did not affect set times
z Addition of TETRAGUARD reduced
restrained drying shrinkage in adverse
simulated desert environments
z Synergism with silica fume
Lubrizol Hazardous Waste
Storage Slab

Painesville, Ohio
 Heisson Bridge

Battle Ground,
Washington
 Bay Area Regional
Transportation Guideway

San Francisco, California

 Summary
z SRAs provide significant reductions in
drying shrinkage and subsequent cracking
in both laboratory and field investigations.
z Substantial benefits with regards to
watertightness, aesthetics and overall
serviceability can be obtained with SRAs.
z Inclusion of SRAs in slab, bridge deck,
liquid containment and repair work can be
very advantageous to improving life cycle.
 Improving Concrete Durability
…by reducing drying shrinkage cracking
z Need a technical sound specification that
addresses drying shrinkage.
z Need proper selection & proportioning of
concrete mixture ingredients to reduce
magnitude of drying shrinkage and drying
shrinkage cracking.
z Need good quality control and consistent
production, placement, finishing and curing
of concrete.