Autogenous shrinkage is a major concern in early age cracking of high performance concrete.
Low water-to-binder ratio and incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials can remarkably increase the shrinkage in the matrix, says a study published in: Construction and Building Materials, Volume 149, 15 September 2017, Pages 62–75.
The study discusses the mechanism of autogenous shrinkage of high performance concrete and influential factors in its development.
Major influential factors in autogenous shrinkage are pore structure, relative humidity, self-stress, degree of hydration, and interface structure.
In general, autogenous shrinkage is more pronounced in high performance concrete, albeit, using low heat cement, fly ash, shrinkage reducing agents, lightweight aggregates, and fibers can effectively reduce it.
The effects of supplementary cementitious materials on autogenous shrinkage, relationship between different types of shrinkage and autogenous shrinkage as well as the effect of internal curing on autogenous shrinkage need to be further studied.
