10. Creep of Concrete
Creep and shrinkage are essential time-dependent deformations affecting concrete structures, influencing their stability and serviceability. Understanding the mechanisms, types, factors affecting these phenomena, and mitigation strategies is crucial for civil engineers in structural design. The chapter covers definitions, types, and effects on structures, alongside measurements and control methods, providing insights into contemporary challenges in concrete engineering.
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Sections
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7.1Example – High-Rise Building
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7.2Example – Bridge Segmental Construction
What we have learnt
- Creep is the gradual increase in strain under constant stress over time, while shrinkage is the volume reduction without external load.
- Various factors affect creep and shrinkage, including moisture conditions, age at loading, and water-cement ratio.
- Mitigation methods involve using low water-cement ratios, adequate curing, and employing shrinkage-reducing admixtures.
Key Concepts
- -- Creep
- The gradual increase in strain or deformation of concrete under constant stress, influenced by time and environmental factors.
- -- Shrinkage
- Time-dependent volume reduction of concrete that occurs due to moisture loss or chemical reactions.
- -- Creep Coefficient
- A parameter used to quantify creep strain relative to elastic strain at the time of loading.
- -- Plastic Shrinkage
- Shrinkage occurring shortly after placing concrete, primarily due to rapid evaporation of surface water.
- -- Drying Shrinkage
- The significant volume reduction of hardened concrete as it loses water from capillary pores to the environment.
- -- Autogenous Shrinkage
- Volume reduction caused by hydration reactions in the paste, especially in low water-cement ratio concretes.
Additional Learning Materials
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