Concrete Slab Drying Shrinkage Cracking （混凝土板干燥收缩开裂,）.pdf

CEMEX USA - Technical Bulletin 7.0 Concrete Slab Drying Shrinkage Cracking What is it, why does it occur, and how can the potential be minimized? What is concrete slab drying shrinkage cracking? When concrete is placed; typically that concrete contains more water than is required to hydrate the cementitious materials the mixture contains. This excess water, or water of convenience; is for workability and placement purposes. Most of this excess water begins to exit the concrete during placement/curing and causes the concrete to shrink. While the concrete is shrinking, many things such as reinforcement or the subgrade restrain the concrete. This restraint creates tensile stresses in the concrete slab which in turn may produce drying shrinkage cracking. Concrete slab drying shrinkage cracking can be the unfortunate end result of a combination of factors related to material choices, construction planning, placement, and curing periods. Knowledge of these types of contributing factors is half the battle. Why does it occur? There are numerous factors that may cause the phenomenon of slab drying shrinkage. The contributing factors include, but are not limited to: 1. Use of wrong concrete mixture design 2. Excess water in lieu of the mixture design requirements 3. Excess water added on the jobsite 4. Improper subgrade preparation (compaction, moisture content, etc.) 5. Rapid evaporation of moisture from the slab during placement and curing 6. Improper use of reinforcement 7. Lack of or improper placement of control joints 8. Insufficient timing of saw cuts 9. Insufficient saw cut depth 10. Improper finishing techniques 11. Lack of curing or improper curing techniques