Early Age Cracking in Cementitious Systems 89

4.2 SHRINKAGE OF CONCRETE

Bertil Persson
Division Building Materials
Lund Institute of Technology
Lund University, Lund, Sweden

4.2.1 Background and Objectives

This section deals only with autogenous and drying shrinkage. Autogenous shrinkage is caused by
the self-desiccation, which in turn is induced by chemical shrinkage during hydration [1] (see also
chapter 3). When the internal relative humidity, RH, is decreasing, the under-pressure in the pore
water increases, causing compression in the aggregate and in the cement paste [2,3]. Chemical
shrinkage also occurs in normal strength concrete, though, since the pores are larger, it hardly
affects RH and the measured shrinkage at all [4,5]. Drying shrinkage (which cannot be measured)
is thus calculated as the difference between the measured total and the autogenous (sealed)
shrinkage. Carbonation shrinkage occurs when carbon di-oxide molecules penetrate into the
cement paste of the concrete and react with the hydration products in the presence of moisture [1].
Carbonation shrinkage can be detected and is measured when the weight of the concrete starts to
increase.

The objective of this section was to outline the effect of water-binder ratio, w/b, carbonation, RH,
aggregate content, silica fume, cement, environmental conditions, size and age on the shrinkage of
concrete, as well as making a comparison between the actual shrinkage and the one predicted
from the Model of the Fédération International de Béton, fib 2000 [6-11].

4.2.2 Variables Affecting Shrinkage

The following parameters have a major influence on shrinkage:
1. w/b, carbonation and RH
2. aggregate content and type
3. type and fineness of binder
4. environmental conditions
5. size effect and age at the start of shrinkage

4.2.2.1 Effect of w/b, carbonation and RH

At constant aggregate content, ac, the total shrinkage, i.e. autogenous and drying, is increasing
with the w/b-ratio. However, at high w/b-ratio, a larger ac is used, which somewhat compensates
for the larger shrinkage [12], Figure 4.2.1. The effect of w/b-ratio on shrinkage of High
Performance Concrete, HPC, is consistent within the limits of the aggregate content, ac. Figures
90 RILEM TC 181-EAS: Final Report - July 2002

4.2.2-4.2.4 [13]. Tables 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 present the characteristics of the cements and concretes of
a recent study on shrinkage of 8 HPCs [13,14]. RH of the concrete was measured by dew-point
meters on fragment from strength test. ASTM E 104-85 calibration was performed. The
autogenous shrinkage was defined and calculated at no loss of weight, Figure 4.2.5. Carbonation
shrinkage started and was recorded when the weight of the specimen increased; the detected
shrinkage was correlated with the carbonation depth measured by phenolphthalein, Figure 4.2.6.
RH plays a major role in carbonation and drying shrinkage. It is well known that no carbonation
takes place at low RH or in saturated concrete shrinkage and also that drying shrinkage increases
at lower RH, Figure 4.2.7.

Table 4.2.1: Chemical composition and characteristics of the cements [13]

Chemical Normal hardening (N, Normal hardening Slowly hardening

composition (%) Byggcement, -B) (N, Slite, -S), (Degerhamn Std, SL)
Clinker minerals:
C2S 12 14 21
C3S 50 57 57
C3A 7 8 1.7
C4AF 6 7 13
Physical
properties:
Water demand 28.3% 28% 25%
Initial setting 167 min. 154 min. 145 min.
Density 3075 kg/m3 3122 kg/m3 3214 kg/m3
Specific surface 479 m2/kg 364 m2/kg 305 m2/kg

1.4 0.8
1.2
Total shrinkage

1 0.7
Total shrinkage

0.8
0.6 0.6
0.4
0.2 0.5
0
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.4
0.2 0.3 0.4
w/b-ratio
w/b-ratio
Aggregate content: 0.6
ac=0,70 ac=0,71 ac=0,72
Aggregate content: 0.7
ac=0,73 ac=0,74 ac=0,75
Aggregate content: 0.8

Figure 4.2.1: Total shrinkage at 60% RH Figure 4.2.2: Total shrinkage at 60% RH
(0/00) versus w/b-ratio [12]. (0/00) versus w/b-ratio [13].
 Early Age Cracking in Cementitious Systems 91

0,4 10% granulated silica

Autogenous shrinkage (‰)

0,5
f
Drying shrinkage (‰)

0,4 0,3

0,3 0,2
0,2 0,1
0,1
0,0
0,2 0,3 0,4
0,2 0,3 0,4
W/-b-ratio
W/b-ratio
Granulated silica fume - s/c= 0.05
ac=0,70 ac=0,71 ac=0,72 Granulated silica fume - s/c= 0.10
ac=0,73 ac=0,74 ac=0,75 Silica fume slurry - s/c= 0.05
Silica fume slurry - s/c= 0.10

Figure 4.2.3: Drying shrinkage versus Figure 4.2.4: Autogenous shrinkage

w/b-ratio [13]. versus w/b-ratio [13]

Table 4.2.2: Mix proportions and main properties [13]

Material /Mix number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Cement, Degerhamn Std 430 440 445 455 495 530 490 545
Granul. silica fume (17 m²/g) 21 44 45 50 51 55
Silica fume slurry (23 m²/g) 23 49
Water-binder ratio (1:1) 0.35 0.34 0.33 0.31 0.28 0.26 0.27 0.23
Air-content (% by volume) 4.8 1.1 4.0 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.3
Aggregate content 0.74 0.73 0.72 0.75 0.71 0.70 0.72 0.70
Density (kg/m3) 2335 2440 2360 2510 2465 2480 2500 2490
Slump (mm) 140 160 170 45 200 130 45 45
28-day drying strength (MPa) 69 85 69 89 99 106 112 114
28-day sealed strength (MPa) 89 105 95 101 121 126 122 129

The following equations were calculated [13] (‰):

εa = ks ·(0,0056·(w/b)-2.64 {R² = 0.77} (1)
–10,164
εa = 0,0158·(RH) {R² = 0,74} (2)
εc = 0,6741·csp {R² = 0,70} (3)
εd = 35,816 ·(w/b)² - 21,462 ·(w/b) + 3,470 {R² = 0,62} (4)
εt = 36,825·(w/b)² - 22,751·(w/b) + 4,070 {R² = 0,64} (5)
a, c, d, t denotes autogenous, carbonation, drying and total
csp denotes carbonated section part
ks = 1.63 for concrete with silica fume slurry; ks = 1 otherwise
RH denotes internal relative humidity
ε denotes shrinkage (‰)
92 RILEM TC 181-EAS: Final Report - July 2002

0.25

0.3
0.20
Autogenous shrinkage

Carbonation shrinkage
0.2
0.15

0.1
0.10
0
0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.05

Internal relative humidity,

RH 0.00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40
Granulated silica fume - s/c= 0.05
Carbonated section part
Granululated silica fume - s/c= 0.10
Silica fume slurry - s/c= 0.05
ac=0,70 ac=0,71 ac=0,72
Silica fume slurry - s/c= 0.10
ac=0,73 ac=0,74 ac=0,75

Figure 4.2.5: Autogenous shrinkage Figure 4.2.6: Carbonation shrinkage (0/00)

(0/00) versus internal relative humidity, versus carbonated area [13].
RH [13].

4.2.2.2 Effect of aggregate content, ac, and type of aggregate

The influence of aggregate content in the range of 0.70 to 0.75 is shown in Figures 4.2.7-4.2.8
[13]. A tendency curve with very low significance was obtained from Figure 7, which means that
shrinkage was more influenced by w/b than by ac. For cement mortar, the effect of aggregate
content, ac, is shown in Figure 4.2.9 [15]. The following equations were obtained for the effect of
ac:

εt ≈ -2,83·ac + 2,66 {R2 = 0,35} (6)

εt = 1,04·e-2,639·ac {R2 = 0,99} (7)

Different kinds of aggregate also had an effect of the magnitude of shrinkage, Figure 4.2.10 [16].
 Early Age Cracking in Cementitious Systems 93

0,8 0,5

Drying shrinkage (‰)

Total shrinkage (‰)

0,7 0,4
0,3
0,6
0,2
0,5 0,1
0,4 0
0,69 0,71 0,73 0,75 0,69 0,71 0,73 0,75
Aggregate content, ac Aggregate content, ac

w/b = 0.23 w/b = 0.27 w/b = 0.23 w/b = 0.27 w/b = 0.28
w/b = 0.28 w/b = 0.31 w/b = 0.31 w/b = 0.33 w/b = 0.34
w/b = 0.33 w/b = 0.34 w/b = 0.36
w/b = 0.36

Figure 4.2.7: Total shrinkage vs aggregate Figure 4.2.8: Drying shrinkage (total
content [13]. minus autogenous) vs aggregate content
[13].
4.2.2.3 Effect of environmental conditions
Water-storage of normal concrete (w/b > 0.4) normally results in small expansion due to long-
term absorption of water [16], Figure 4.2.11. It is well known that lower ambient RH imposes
larger capillary forces and subsequently larger shrinkage, Figure 4.2.11. However, for HPC the
situation is different since HPC self-desiccates even under water [22], Figure 4.2.12. Relative
humidity as low as 0.75 is observed at 50 mm depth from the surface for HPC with w/b = 0.20
(10% silica fume) even during water curing. Due to autogenous shrinkage which is generated at
about 20 mm from the water front of the HPC (distance ≈ size of aggregate), expansion in the
surface layer rapidly shifts compressive strain into a tensile one, more or less blocking the water
ingress into HPC [23]. Since the main part of a typical HPC cross-section is self-desiccating,
autogenous shrinkage will take place of such o construction, even under water. Some results on
self-desiccation of HPC columns, 1 m in diameter (water-cured), were confirmed by studies of
submerged HPC, Figure 13 [24].
94 RILEM TC 181-EAS: Final Report - July 2002

Shrinkage in RH=60% (after

1

28-day wet curing, ‰)

0,8
Relative shrinkage

0,8
0,6
0,6
0,4 0,4
0,2 0,2
0 0
0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,1 1 10
Aggregate conctent, ac Age (years)
Gravel Granite
w/b= 0.35 w/b= 0.50
Limestone Quartz
Figure 4.2.9: Relative shrinkage (0/00) of Figure 10: Effects of aggregate type on
mortar [15]. shrinkage (0/00). T = 21 °C; RH = 50%
[16].
4.2.2.4 Effect of size of structure and of age at start of shrinkage
The size effect is mainly taken into account by half the hydraulic radius, V/(2·A), where V denotes
the volume and A is the surface area of the component. For drying shrinkage of normal concrete
the effect of age at the start of shrinkage is well known. The effect of age at start of shrinkage also
applies for autogenous shrinkage, since this kind of deformation takes place more or less
independent of the environmental conditions, Figure 4.2.14 [25]. The drying part of shrinkage
evidently started at the start of measurement but the autogenous shrinkage takes place independent
of the ambient RH. The following relative remaining shrinkage versus age at start of shrinkage
measurement was obtained for concrete 100 mm in diameter with w/b = 0.38 [25]:

εra = 0,91·ts-0,3608 {R2 = 0,99} (8)

εrt = 0,97·ts -0,1796 {R2 = 0,99} (9)

εra denotes remaining relative autogenous shrinkage (100 mm diameter, w/b = 0.38)
εrt denotes remaining relative total shrinkage (100 mm diameter, w/b = 0.38)
ts age at start of shrinkage measurement
 Early Age Cracking in Cementitious Systems 95

1,2 1
days of water curing (‰)
Total shrinkage after 28-

0,95
0,8
0,9
0,4
0,85

0
0,8

-0,4 0,75
0,01 1 100 10 100 1000
Age (da ys)
Age (years)
w/ b=0.20s w/ b=0.22s
RH = 0.5 RH = 0.7
w/ b=0.25 w/ b=0.32s
RH = 1 w/ b=0.33 w/ b=0.43s
w/ b=0.47 w/ b=0.58
Figure 4.2.11: Effect of ambient RH on Figure 4.2.12: Effect of ambient RH on
shrinkage [16]. shrinkage. S= 10% silica fume [16].
1 1
Internal relative humidity

Remaining relative

0,8
with water curing

0,95
shrinkage

0,6
0,9 0,4
0,2
0,85
0
0,8 1 10 100
Age at start (days)
0 10 20 30 40
Depth from surface (mm) Autogenous Total

Figure 4.2.13: RH in 2 years water-cured Figure 4.2.14: Relative remaining

concrete versus depth from surface shrinkage versus at start of shrinkage
(w/b=0.4, 5% silica fume, 8 °C) [24]. measurement (100 mm in diameter, w/b =
0.38) [25].

4.2.3 Simulation of Shrinkage

Calculations according the fib 2000 Model for Shrinkage was carried out and compared with
measured shrinkage [6-11]. The time dependence seems to be well correlated between the derived
and the measured shrinkage. However, it seemed as if the estimated shrinkage was about 75% of
the measured one. No significant relationship to strength or to w/c could account for the
96 RILEM TC 181-EAS: Final Report - July 2002

difference. Total shrinkage was derived as the sum of an autogenous and a drying part, according
to the following formulae [6-11]:

εcas(t)=(1-exp(-0.2·(t) 0.5))·αas·(fcm/ fcm0 /(6+fcm/fcm0))2.5 (10)

εcds(t,ts)=110·(2+αds1)·exp(-αds2·fcm/fcm0)·
·1,55·(1-(RH /100)3)·((t-ts)/(350·(d/200)2+(t-ts)))0.5 (11)

d denotes diameter of cylinder (mm)

fcm0 = 10 MPa
fcm denotes strength at 28 days’ age (MPa)
t denotes time (days)
ts denotes age at start of drying (days)
α denotes constant given in Table 4

Table 4.2.3: Constants in equations (10) and (11)

Type of cement Notification αas αds1 αds2

Slowly hardening SL 800 3 0.13
Normal or rapid hardening cement N, R 700 4 0.12
Rapid hardening high-strength cement RS 600 6 0.12

The model equation was compared with concretes cast with 3 types of Portland cements: one
slowly hardening (Degerhamn, SL) and two normal hardening (N, Byggcement, -B and Slite, -S),
Table 4.2.1. w/b varied between 0.24 and 0.80 with 28-day strength varying between 24 and 141
MPa (100-mm cube). The aggregate content varied between 0.7 and 0.75 and consisted of
quartzite sandstone or gneiss. Natural sand was used. The mixed proportions had silica fume, glass
or sand filler. For details see references [1, 26-36]. The shrinkage was measured for 2500 days.

Figures 4.2.15 and 4.2.16 show two typical behaviours of the validation of the Model, indicating
that the time-dependence seemed to perform well. After individual plotting of all measurements,
about 2000, an evaluation was performed of the ratio between the calculated and measured
shrinkage, Figure 4.2.17. The total shrinkage was well predicted by the fib Model. On average the
calculation was about 77% of the measured total shrinkage. As seen in Figures 4.2.17 and 4.2.18
the model did not perform as well for the autogenous shrinkage. Using normal hardening cement
the estimation was about half of the measured value, increasing at low strength. On the other hand
the autogenous shrinkage was overestimated by about 20% for the slow hardening cement.

Table 4.2.4 shows average results of the evaluated ratio of estimated to measured autogenous and
total shrinkage. It can be concluded that no strength-related divergence between the model and
measurement existed. The same procedure was performed as related to the water-binder ratio,
Figure 4.2.18. Again, using normal hardening cement the estimation was about half of the
measured value. Autogenous shrinkage was overestimated by about 20% using slowly hardening
cement.
 Early Age Cracking in Cementitious Systems 97

Table 4.2.4: Average results of the ratio of estimated to measured autogenous and total shrinkage
including standard variation and coefficient of variation for the different cements.

Shrinkage type, cement type Autogenous N Autogenous SL Total N Total SL

Average 0.48 1.20 0.79 0.74
Standard deviation 0.16 0.49 0.23 0.11
Coefficient of variation 0.34 0.41 0.30 0.15
Notations: N = normal hardening cement; SL = slowly hardening cement

Almost all the estimated values were too small according to the fib Model compared with the
measured values, especially for autogenous shrinkage. The final shrinkage derived according to
the fib Model seemed to have a maximum when drying ended. However, extensive laboratory
tests showed that carbonation shrinkage continues as long as carbonation took place [1,32].
During carbonation and carbonation shrinkage, the specimen regains weight. (At 2500 days’ age
the weight of 56-mm specimen was nearly the same as at starting of drying; constant weight).
Carbonation shrinkage was probably not included in the fib model.

500 y = 0,8029x 600 y = 0,6782x

Estimated shrinkage

Estimated shrinkage

400 R2 = 0,9338 500 R2 = 0,8319

(millionths)

400
(millionths)

300
300
200
200
100
100
0 0
0 200 400 600 0 500 1000
Measured shrinkage Measured shrinkage
(millionths) (millionths)
Figure 4.2.15: fib model estimations vs the Figure 4.2.16: fib model estimations
measured laboratory results of concrete 4. versus laboratory results of concrete 80S.
98 RILEM TC 181-EAS: Final Report - July 2002

Ratio of estimated and

2 2
Ratio of estimated and

measured shrinkage
measured shrinkage

1,5 1,5

1
1
0,5
0,5
0
0 0,20 0,70
0 100 200 Water to binder ratio, w/b
28-day strength (MPa)
Autog. N Autog. SL
Autog. N Autog. SL
Total N Total SL
Total N Total SL

Figure 4.2.17: Ratio of estimated to Figure 4.2.18: Ratio of estimated to

measured shrinkage, versus strength. measured autogenous and total shrinkage
vs w/b.

4.2.4 References
1. Persson, B., ‘Long-term shrinkage of HPC’, in Proc. of the 10th International Congress on the Chemistry
of Cement, Gothenburg, H.Justnes, editor, Vol. 2 paper 073 (1997) 9pp.
2. Persson, B., ‘Early basic creep of HPC’, in 4th International Symposium on the ‘Utilisation of HPC’,
F.de Larrard, and R.Lacroix, (1996) 405-414.
3. Persson, B., ‘On the under-pressure in the pore water of sealed high performance concrete’, Concrete
Science and Engineering, 2 (2000) 213-221.
4. Persson, B. and Fagerlund, G., ‘Self-desiccation and its importance in concrete technology’, Rep.
TVBM-3075, Lund Inst. of Technology, Lund (1997) 255 pp.
5. Persson, B., ‘Self-desiccation and its importance in concrete technology’, Materials and Structures, 30
(1996) 293-305.
6. CEB Bulletin 199, Comité Euro-International du Béton, Lausanne (1990).
7. CEB-fib Model Code 1990, CEB Bulletin, No. 213/214, Lausanne (1993).
8. European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), ENV 1992-1, Design of Concrete Structures, Part 1:
General Rules and Rules for Buildings (1991).
9. Müller, H.S., ‘On the prediction of shrinkage of concrete’. Salutation Paper for Prof. Reinhardt (1999).
10. Müller, H.S.; Küttner, C.H.; Kvitsel, V., RFGC, ACI Workshop, Paris (1999).
11. Müller, H.S.; Kvicel, V., ‘Creep and shrinkage model for normal concrete and HPC’, Issue for RFGC –
ACI Workshop, Paris (2000).
12. Odman, S.T.A., ‘Effect of variations in volume, surface area exposed to drying, and composition of
concrete on shrinkage’, RILEM Int. Colloquium on the Shrinkage of Hydraulic Concretes, Madrid
(1968).
13. Persson, B., ‘Quasi-instantaneous and long-term deformations of HPC with some related properties’,
TVBM-1016, Lund Inst. of Technology, Lund (1998) 500 pp.
14. Hassanzadeh, M., ‘Fracture mechanical properties of HPC’, Report M4:05, Lund Inst. of Technology,
Div. Building Materials, Lund University, Lund (1994) 8-13.
15. Pickett, G., ‘Effect of aggregate on shrinkage of concrete’, Journal of American Concrete Institute 56
(1956) 581-590.
16. Troxell, G.E.; Raphael, J.M.; Davis, R.E., ‘Long-term creep and shrinkage tests of plain and reinforced
concrete’, ASTM 58 (1858) 1101-1120.
 Early Age Cracking in Cementitious Systems 99

17. Jensen, O.M., Hansen, P.F., ‘Autogenous relative humidity change in silica fume-modified cement
paste’, Advances in Cement Research 7 (25) (1995) 33-38.
18. ASTM E 104-85, ‘Standard practice for maintaining constant relative humidity by means of aqueous
solutions’, ASTM, Philadelphia (1985) 33, 637.
19. Tazawa, E., Miyazawa, S., ‘Effect of constituents and curing conditions on autogenous shrinkage’ in in
Proceedings of the Int. Workshop ‘Autogenous Shrinkage of Concrete AUTOSHRINK98’, Ei-ichi
Tazawa, Editor, Hiroshima 1998, E & FN Spon (1999) 269-280.
20. Powers, T.C., Brownyard, T.L., ‘Studies of physical properties of hardened portland cement paste’,
Journal of Portland Cement Research Laboratories, PCA 22, (1946-1948) 473-488, 845-864.
21. Persson, B., ‘Consequence of cement constituents, mix composition and curing conditions for self-
desiccation in concrete’, Materials and Structures 33 (2000) 352-362.
22. Persson, B., ‘Hydration and strength of high-performance concrete’, Advanced Cement Based Materials 3
(1996) 107-123.
23. Persson, B., ‘Moisture in concrete subjected to different kinds of curing’, Materials and Structures 30
(1997) 533-544.
24. Nilsson, L.-O., Hedenblad, G., Norling-Mjörnell, K., ‘Suction after long time’, Concrete Handbook,
HPC, Svensk Byggtjänst, Stockholm (2000) 209-226.
25. Persson, B., ‘Deformations of house construction concrete – effect of production methods on elastic
modulus, creep and shrinkage’, Report TVBM-3088, Lund University, Lund (1999) 71 pp.
26. Persson, B., ‘Shrinkage and strength of self-compacting concrete with different kinds of filler’, Report
U00.13, Div. Building Materials, Lund University, (2000).
27. Persson, B., ‘Quasi-instantaneous and long-term deformations of HPC with sealed curing’, Advanced
Cement Based Materials 8 (1998) 1-16.
28. Persson, B., ‘Influence of maturity on creep of HPC’, Materials and Structures 32 (1999) 506-519.
29. Persson, B., ‘Experimental studies on shrinkage in HPC’, Cement and Concrete Research 28 (1997)
1023-1036.
30. Persson, B., ‘Basic deformations of HPC at early ages’, Nordic Concrete Research 20 (1997) 59-74.
31. Persson, B., ‘Strength and shrinkage of self-compacting concrete’, in ‘Shrinkage of Concrete – Shrinkage
2000’, V. Baroghel-Bouny and P.-C. Aïtcin, editors, (RILEM PRO 17 2000) 21-99.
32. Persson, B., ‘Eight-year exploration of shrinkage in HPC’, submitted for publication, Cement and
Concrete Research (2000).
33. Persson, B., ‘Shrinkage of high performance concrete’, in Proc. Int. RILEM Conference on ‘Early Age
Cracking in Cementitious Systems’ K.Kovler and A. Bentur, editors, (RILEM 2000) 301-311.
34. Persson, B., ‘Validation of fib 2000 Model for Shrinkage in Normal and High-Performance Concrete,
HPC’, Report TVBM-7157, Division of Building Materials, Lund Institute of Technology. Lund (1999)
108 pp.
35. Persson, B., ‘Justification of fib 2000 Model for Elastic Modulus of Normal and HPC’, Report TVBM-
7159. Div. Building Materials, Lund University (1999) 24 pp.
36. Persson, B., ‘Deviation of fib 2000 Model for Creep of Normal and High-Performance Concrete and
Laboratory Measurements’, Report TVBM-7160. Division of Building Materials. Lund University, Lund
(1999) 343 pp.