REACT: Reducing Early-Age Cracking Today.
REACT: Reducing Early-Age Cracking Today.
(4493 K)
Bentz, D. P.; Weiss, W. J.
Concrete Plant International, No. 3, 56-61, 2008.
Keywords:
cracking (fracturing); concretes; construction
materials; structures; mitigation; ASTM C 1608; thermal
properties; shrinkage; stress (mechanics); temperature
rise; curing agents; plastics; mortar; temperature;
compressive strength
Abstract:
Concrete is generally viewed as a durable and
long-lasting construction material. However, the
long-term performance of a concrete structure can be
greatly compromised by early-age cracking. One recent
informal estimate from the industry places this as a
$500 million problem in the U.S. alone, with some
ready-mix companies experiencing early-age issues on as
many as 70% of their jobs. As is often the case, as a
problem intensifies, mitigation strategies are developed
and promoted from the research laboratory to the field.
This paper will briefly review the most common
non-structural causes of early-age cracking and present
an introduction to various mitigation strategies. These
strategies are being further investigated as part of a
newly formed university/industry/government
collaboration under the acronym of REACT: Reducing
Early-Age Cracking Today.
