Measurement and evaluation proposal of early age shrinkage of cement composites using shrinkage-cone

Abstract

The paper deals with an experimental analysis focused on the determination and evaluation of the early age shrinkage strain using Shrinkage-Cone. The measurements were performed on the cement pastes and mortars with a different w/c ratio. The authors propose a new approach to the measurement evaluation based on the determination of time-zero at the time of estimated initial setting determined as the time when the internal temperature of specimens started to rise. In this case, also the effect of the thermal expansion is taken into account in the evaluation.The paper deals with an experimental analysis focused on the determination and evaluation of the early age shrinkage strain using Shrinkage-Cone. The measurements were performed on the cement pastes and mortars with a different w/c ratio. The authors propose a new approach to the measurement evaluation based on the determination of time-zero at the time of estimated initial setting determined as the time when the internal temperature of specimens started to rise. In this case, also the effect of the thermal expansion is taken into account in the evaluation.