Concrete Shrinkage Measurement and Cracking Mitigation

Shrinkage cracking poses a significant challenge to the durability of concrete infrastructure. The 2022 National Concrete Consortium survey ranked bridge deck cracking as a critical area requiring research. NCHRP Synthesis 500: Control of Concrete Cracking in Bridges emphasized the necessity for specifications to control shrinkage cracking and advocated for further investigation into shrinkage-reducing admixtures, cementitious materials, and internal curing to mitigate cracking in concrete mixtures. Existing test methods do not measure total shrinkage (autogenous plus drying) in concrete and often overlook field-specific variations in materials, construction practices, and restraint conditions. Research on concrete shrinkage cracking is needed to develop informed design guidelines, optimize construction practices, and create more accurate performance predictive models and effective crack mitigation strategies, ultimately improving the long-term durability of concrete structures. The objectives of the research are to develop (1) a method(s) to measure total shrinkage of concrete (autogenous and drying) applicable to a variety of current and emerging binders and mixtures and (2) acceptance criteria for qualifying concrete mixtures by integrating test results with field-specific variations to predict cracking.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5687
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $600,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 18-22

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Khosravifar, Sadaf

• Start Date: 20250120
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete bridges; Concrete pavements; Cracking; Shrinkage; Test procedures
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01919865
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 18-22
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 28 2024 4:22PM