Validation of the model developed by Le Roy for the shrinkage of self-compacting concrete

Abstract

By means of concrete equivalent mortar (CEM) principle, concrete properties can be experimentally studied at mortar level. Based on this principle, this paper studies the influence of mix design parameters on autogenous and drying shrinkage of self-compacting concrete by means of experiments at mortar level. Mix design parameters of this study are W/C (water/cement) ratio and A/C (limestone filler/cement) ratio. The results show that autogenous shrinkage increases with decreasing W/C and A/C contrary to drying shrinkage which increases with higher ratios. Furthermore, based on mortar and paste results, it is shown that the model developed by Le Roy to predict the shrinkage of CEM and possibly of SCC, from shrinkage measured on cementing paste, is also valid for shrinkage of limestone filler based self-compacting cementious materials. Furthermore, some known results on the influence of water/cement ratio and filler/cement ratio have been confirmed and can be explained by porosity results