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Plastic shrinkage cracking in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.

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Main Author: Combrinck, Riaan
Other Authors: Boshoff, William Peter
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2011
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access_status_str Open Access
author Combrinck, Riaan
author2 Boshoff, William Peter
author_browse Boshoff, William Peter
Combrinck, Riaan
author_facet Boshoff, William Peter
Combrinck, Riaan
author_sort Combrinck, Riaan
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6572
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:43:33.723Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2011
publishDateRange 2011
publishDateSort 2011
publisher Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
publisherStr Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
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source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6572 Plastic shrinkage cracking in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete Combrinck, Riaan Boshoff, William Peter University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. Plastic Shrinkage Dissertations -- Civil engineering Theses -- Civil engineering Fiber-reinforced concrete Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plastic shrinkage cracking (PSC) is the cracking caused by the early age shrinkage of concrete within the first few hours after the concrete has been cast. It results in unsightly surface cracks that serve as pathways whereby corroding agents can penetrate the concrete which shortens the expected service life of a structure. PSC is primarily a problem at large exposed concrete surfaces for example bridge decks and slabs placed in environmental conditions with high evaporation rates. Most precautionary measures for PSC are externally applied and aimed to reduce the water loss through evaporation. The addition of a low dosage of polymeric fibres to conventional concrete is an internal preventative measure which has been shown to reduce PSC. The mechanisms involved with PSC in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete (LV-FRC) are however not clearly understood. This lack of knowledge and guidance leads to neglect and ineffective use of preventative measures. The objective of this study is to provide the fundamental understanding of the phenomena of PSC. To achieve the objective, an in depth background study and experiments were conducted on fresh conventional concrete and LV-FRC. The three essential mechanisms required for PSC are: 1→ Capillary pressure build-up between the particles of the concrete is the source of shrinkage. 2→ Air entry into a concrete initiates cracking. 3→ Restraint of the concrete is required for crack forming. The experiments showed the following significant findings for conventional and LV-FRC: PSC is only possible once all the bleeding water at the surface has evaporated and once air entry has occurred. The critical period where the majority of the PSC occurs is between the initial and final set of concrete. Any preventative measure for PSC is most effective during this period. The bleeding characteristics of a mix have a significant influence on PSC. Adding a low volume of polymeric fibres to concrete reduces PSC due to the added resistance that fibres give to crack widening, which increases significantly from the start of the critical period. The fundamental knowledge gained from this study can be utilized to develop a practical model for the design and prevention of PSC in conventional concrete and LV-FRC. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Plastiese krimp krake (PSK) is die krake wat gevorm word a.g.v. die vroeë krimping van beton binne die eerste paar ure nadat die beton gegiet is. Dit veroorsaak onooglike oppervlak krake wat dien as kanale waardeur korrosie agente die beton kan binnedring om so die dienstydperk van die struktuur te verkort. Dit is hoofsaaklik ʼn probleem by groot blootgestelde beton oppervlaktes soos brug dekke en blaaie wat gegiet is in klimaat kondisies met hoë verdamping tempo’s. Meeste voorsorgmaatreëls vir PSK word ekstern aangewend en beperk die water verlies as gevolg van verdamping. Die byvoeging van ʼn lae volume polimeriese vesels is ʼn interne voorsorgmaatreël wat bekend is om PSK te verminder. Die meganismes betrokke ten opsigte van PSK in gewone beton en lae volume vesel versterkte beton (LV-VVB) is vaag. Die vaagheid en tekort aan riglyne lei tot nalatigheid en oneffektiewe aanwending van voorsorgmaatreëls. Die doel van die studie is om die fundamentele kennis oor die fenomeen van PSK te gee. Om die doel te bereik is ʼn indiepte agtergrond studie en eksperimente uitgevoer op gewone beton en LV-VVB. Die drie meganismes benodig vir PSK is: 1→ Kapillêre druk tussen die deeltjies van die beton is die hoof bron van krimping. 2→ Lugindringing in die beton wat krake inisieer. 3→ Inklemming van die beton is noodsaaklik vir kraakvorming. Die eksperimente het die volgende noemenswaardige bevindinge opgelewer: PSK is slegs moontlik indien al die bloeiwater van die beton oppervlakte verdamp het en indien lug die beton ingedring het. Die kritiese periode waar die meerderheid van die PSK plaasvind is tussen die aanvanklike en finale set van die beton. Enige voorsorgmaatreël vir PSK is mees effektief gedurende die periode. Die bloei eienskappe van ʼn meng het ʼn noemenswaardige effek op die PSK. Die byvoeging van ʼn lae volume polimeriese vesels tot beton verminder die PSK deur die addisionele weerstand wat die vesels bied teen die toename in kraakwydte. Die weerstand vergroot noemenswaardig vanaf die begin van die kritiese periode. Die fundamentele kennis wat in die studie opgedoen is, kan gebruik word vir die ontwikkeling van ʼn praktiese model vir die ontwerp en verhoed van PSK in gewone beton en LV-VVB. 2011-02-23T13:48:55Z 2011-03-14T08:20:23Z 2011-02-23T13:48:55Z 2011-03-14T08:20:23Z 2011-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6572 en_ZA University of Stellenbosch 127 p. : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
spellingShingle Plastic
Shrinkage
Dissertations -- Civil engineering
Theses -- Civil engineering
Fiber-reinforced concrete
Combrinck, Riaan
Plastic shrinkage cracking in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete
title Plastic shrinkage cracking in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete
title_full Plastic shrinkage cracking in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete
title_fullStr Plastic shrinkage cracking in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete
title_full_unstemmed Plastic shrinkage cracking in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete
title_short Plastic shrinkage cracking in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete
title_sort plastic shrinkage cracking in conventional and low volume fibre reinforced concrete
topic Plastic
Shrinkage
Dissertations -- Civil engineering
Theses -- Civil engineering
Fiber-reinforced concrete
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6572
work_keys_str_mv AT combrinckriaan plasticshrinkagecrackinginconventionalandlowvolumefibrereinforcedconcrete