A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Shrinkage-Cracking Prevention in Large-Scale Concrete Structures by Means of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs)
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3135-5694
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9427-6312
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0851-6242
SAPs have been widely studied over the past two decades as new admixtures for cementitious materials. Their ability to absorb and retain water from the cementitious mixture allowed them to be successfully used as internal curing agents preventing self-desiccation and reducing autogenous shrinkage. A lot of research has been developed and important advances have been achieved, but there is still a lack of studies reporting on the use of SAPs in large-scale structures. This paper presents results of a large-scale testing campaign in Belgium using a commercial SAP. Three reinforced concrete walls (dimensions 14 m × 2.75 m × 0.80 m) were built and monitored with regards to shrinkage and cracking. Two walls without SAPs and water-to-cement ratio of 0.44 and 0.52 were used as references. The SAP-wall was built with 0.38% (over the cement mass) of a commercial SAP, total water-to-cement ratio of 0.52 and effective water-to-cement ratio of 0.44. A laboratory campaign was performed simultaneously with the on-site one to fully characterize the concrete used in the walls. The addition of SAPs promoted a reduction of up to 75% of shrinkage strain in the first 7 days and up to 60% after 28 days. No cracks have developed in the SAP wall, while for the reference walls the first cracks were noticed 5 days after casting. The addition of SAPs caused a 17% reduction in compressive strength at 28 days compared to the reference with less water and 22% increase compared to the reference with more water.
Shrinkage-Cracking Prevention in Large-Scale Concrete Structures by Means of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs)
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3135-5694
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9427-6312
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0851-6242
SAPs have been widely studied over the past two decades as new admixtures for cementitious materials. Their ability to absorb and retain water from the cementitious mixture allowed them to be successfully used as internal curing agents preventing self-desiccation and reducing autogenous shrinkage. A lot of research has been developed and important advances have been achieved, but there is still a lack of studies reporting on the use of SAPs in large-scale structures. This paper presents results of a large-scale testing campaign in Belgium using a commercial SAP. Three reinforced concrete walls (dimensions 14 m × 2.75 m × 0.80 m) were built and monitored with regards to shrinkage and cracking. Two walls without SAPs and water-to-cement ratio of 0.44 and 0.52 were used as references. The SAP-wall was built with 0.38% (over the cement mass) of a commercial SAP, total water-to-cement ratio of 0.52 and effective water-to-cement ratio of 0.44. A laboratory campaign was performed simultaneously with the on-site one to fully characterize the concrete used in the walls. The addition of SAPs promoted a reduction of up to 75% of shrinkage strain in the first 7 days and up to 60% after 28 days. No cracks have developed in the SAP wall, while for the reference walls the first cracks were noticed 5 days after casting. The addition of SAPs caused a 17% reduction in compressive strength at 28 days compared to the reference with less water and 22% increase compared to the reference with more water.
Shrinkage-Cracking Prevention in Large-Scale Concrete Structures by Means of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs)
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3135-5694
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9427-6312
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0851-6242
SAPs have been widely studied over the past two decades as new admixtures for cementitious materials. Their ability to absorb and retain water from the cementitious mixture allowed them to be successfully used as internal curing agents preventing self-desiccation and reducing autogenous shrinkage. A lot of research has been developed and important advances have been achieved, but there is still a lack of studies reporting on the use of SAPs in large-scale structures. This paper presents results of a large-scale testing campaign in Belgium using a commercial SAP. Three reinforced concrete walls (dimensions 14 m × 2.75 m × 0.80 m) were built and monitored with regards to shrinkage and cracking. Two walls without SAPs and water-to-cement ratio of 0.44 and 0.52 were used as references. The SAP-wall was built with 0.38% (over the cement mass) of a commercial SAP, total water-to-cement ratio of 0.52 and effective water-to-cement ratio of 0.44. A laboratory campaign was performed simultaneously with the on-site one to fully characterize the concrete used in the walls. The addition of SAPs promoted a reduction of up to 75% of shrinkage strain in the first 7 days and up to 60% after 28 days. No cracks have developed in the SAP wall, while for the reference walls the first cracks were noticed 5 days after casting. The addition of SAPs caused a 17% reduction in compressive strength at 28 days compared to the reference with less water and 22% increase compared to the reference with more water.
Shrinkage-Cracking Prevention in Large-Scale Concrete Structures by Means of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs)
RILEM Bookseries
Escalante-Garcia, J. Ivan (editor) / Castro Borges, Pedro (editor) / Duran-Herrera, Alejandro (editor) / Filho, José Roberto Tenório (author) / Snoeck, Didier (author) / De Belie, Nele (author)
RILEM Annual Week ; 2021 ; Merida, Mexico
Proceedings of the 75th RILEM Annual Week 2021 ; Chapter: 53 ; 481-488
RILEM Bookseries ; 40
2023-03-11
8 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English