CHAPTER THREE

METHODS AND RESULTS

3.1 Testing methods

The tests performed on fresh concrete are shown in Table 4-1. The test methods, specimens,
and ages for other properties are shown in Table

Table 3.1 - Test Methods for Fresh Concrete Properties

Property Test method

Slump ASTM C 143

Density ASTM C 138

Air content by pressure method ASTM C 231

Concrete temperature ASTM C 1064

Table 3.2 - Test Methods for Other Properties of Concrete

Property Test Specimen Number Test ages

method tested
each time
Time of initial ASTM C 403 6" diameter × 5" 2 Until time of initial setting
setting high
sieved mortar
Autogenous UWMCBU* 4" × 4" × 13 ¾" 3 Time of initial setting and between
shrinkage beam 15 to 18
hours (≈ 0.7 days); and
1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days.
Compressive ASTM C 39 4" diameter × 8" 3 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 91, and 182 days
strength high
cylinder
Splitting-tensile ASTM C 496 4" diameter × 8" 3 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 91, and 182 days
strength high
cylinder
Drying ASTM C 157 3" × 3" × 11 ¼" 3 1- and 28 - days during water
shrinkage beam storage. Subsequently after 4, 7,
14, 28, 56, 112 days during air
storage at a relative humidity of
50 ± 4%.
3.2 Calculation of Autogenous Length Change

For the calculations of the autogenous length difference of concrete, the thermal strain caused
by cement hydration was subtracted from the apparent length difference of measurements.
The constant of thermal expansion of concrete was assumed as ten × 10-6/°C. For calculation
of autogenous length change of a concrete beam, two readings of the dial indicators were
recorded as Xoa and Xob at the time of initial setting of concrete. any readings of the dial
indicators were recorded as Xia and Xib. The length change was calculated because the linear
strain ΔL by the subsequent equation:

[( X ia+ X ib) – (X 0 a+ X 0b)]

ΔL= −ε t
L
where,
L = distance between the innermost ends of gauge plugs (between little plates of the gauge
plugs)
εt = Thermal strain calculated as dT × α where, dT = change in concrete temperature, and α =
coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete.

3.3 Results obtained from past investigations

Several approaches are planned and followed. Therefore, on address the issues related to
drying shrinkage in field applications. Those approaches were varied from improvement of
mixture proportions (by minimizing water content. choosing quality aggregates. etc.) to the
method of using of shrinkage-compensating cement. In some cases. It can obtain through
suitable mixture proportions and recommended concreting and curing methods can apply to
control drying shrinkage in some cases.
However, it is very hard to stop drying shrinkage cracking in several of the cases wherever
environmental conditions are quite severe like heat, low humidity and wind speed, or
condition of materials have a high propensity for shrinkage,
One of the suitable viable approaches to reduce the shrinkage cracking was the utilization of
shrinkage-compensating cement and it's been used with effectively in several applications.
Despite the fact in this technology was found to be a viable and possible option and it's not
been totally embraced and accepted by the concrete construction market.

The Difficulty in understanding and harnessing the advantages of shrinkage-compensating

cement ends up in lack of acceptance. As an example, fast slump loss is usually obtained and
may be problematic because of the abundance of ettringite made throughout the early
hydration stages. Additionally, appropriate curing method is important since the moisture is
required to trigger the expansive reaction. Lastly, the number of restraints provided among
the concrete component like formwork, reinforcing steel, etc. should be accurately designed
and incorporated into the structure. Therefore, will achieve favorable restrained expansion.
Because of the reasons given, shrinkage-compensating cements haven't been universally
accepted.
A modern approach for minimizing the drying shrinkage is that the advent of shrinkage-
reducing
admixtures (SRAs). This family of admixtures can avoid the shrinkage problem by reducing
short- and long -term drying shrinkage. However, it'll be while not the reliance on expansive
reactions. A detailed description of the shrinkage reducing mechanism of SRAs are stated in
several publications and also the following could be a summary of the mode of action of
SRAs with using WRAs.

3.4 Effect of shrinkage reducing admixture with different dosages on concrete

The investigations by Y Yao et al. (2019) have found the results of shrinkage reducing
admixture (SRA) dosage on the shrinkage and crack properties of cement-based materials.
From the shrinkage and crack results, it had been discovered that the capability of resist
cracking of concrete may be effectively improved by SRA. For the study, Portland cement
(reference cement) sort CEM P.I 42.5 (according to the china standard) had been used. As the
fine aggregate, the sand with the fineness modulus is 3.1. The particle size distribution of
coarse aggregate was 5 - 20 mm. A shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) had used with 0% to
5% wt by mass of cement. A naphthalene sulfonate water reducing admixture (WRA) had
used and it's a water reducing rate of 20 wt.%. WRA had used at a dosase of 0.75 wt.% by
mass of cement.
The volume of concrete was 50L and also the mixture proportions are given below. The
dosage of the SRA was 0%, 1%, 2% and 5% respectively.