Creep and Shrinkage of Early-Age Concrete at Cold Temperature

Abstract

Abstract This study was to investigate the concrete creep and shrinkage of early-age concrete at cold temperatures and to analyze their characteristics compared with the creep and shrinkage measured at room temperature. Concrete creep frames were used to apply a sustained force to specimens. One frame was located in a laboratory at room temperature, and the other was in a cold room. An MTS test machine with an environmental chamber was used to test other specimens at the same time with an improved accuracy in force and temperature control. Test results showed that the concrete creep and shrinkage stayed dormant at the cold temperature (−40°C and −55°C). But the creep and shrinkage resumed once the temperature increased from the cold to room temperature. The concrete creep and shrinkage strain change pattern was similar to the one measured from specimens at room temperature. When concrete was loaded at the cold temperature and the temperature changed from the cold to room temperature, there was a substantial increase in strain as the temperature changed. The accumulated creep and shrinkage were greater than the ones measured from the specimen placed in room temperature.