Crack Mitigation in Concrete: Superabsorbent Polymers as Key to Success?

Arn Mignon1,2, Didier Snoeck3, Peter Dubruel4

  • 1Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 904, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium. Arn.Mignon@ugent.be.

Related Concept Videos

Superplasticizers01:30

Superplasticizers

Superplasticizers are advanced admixtures that enhance the workability of concrete by lowering the water content without compromising the strength of the material. These substances are highly effective water reducers, improving concrete flow, making it easier to work with, and enabling concrete to reach inaccessible areas or densely reinforced sections without mechanical vibration. The key components in superplasticizers are either sulfonated melamine or naphthalene formaldehyde condensates,...
389
Waterproofing and Anti-Bacterial Admixtures in Concrete01:22

Waterproofing and Anti-Bacterial Admixtures in Concrete

Concrete's susceptibility to water absorption is due to the capillary action within the pores of its hydrated cement paste. This action draws water in, creating the need for waterproofing admixtures to prevent such penetration. The efficacy of these admixtures is contingent upon the water pressure, with variations arising from different conditions such as rain, capillary rise, or hydrostatic pressure in structures intended to hold water.
Waterproofing admixtures render concrete hydrophobic,...
263
Microcracking in Concrete01:20

Microcracking in Concrete

Microcracking in concrete refers to the tiny cracks that can form within the material even before any external load is applied. These microcracks typically occur at the interface between the coarse aggregate and the hydrated cement paste, often as a result of differential volume changes prompted by variations in stress-strain behavior, as well as thermal and moisture movement. Initially, these microcracks remain stable and do not grow substantially until the concrete is stressed to about 30...
512
Accelerators01:17

Accelerators

Accelerators in concrete serve as admixtures to speed up the hardening process, enabling the concrete to achieve early strength faster. Although accelerators do not necessarily impact the time it takes concrete to set, they reduce this time in practice. A common accelerator is calcium chloride, which is particularly useful for hastening early strength development in cold weather or for rapid repair jobs that require quick heat generation after mixing.
The effectiveness of calcium chloride can...
318
Additives and Fillers in Concrete01:29

Additives and Fillers in Concrete

Additives and fillers are integral to enhancing the properties of concrete. Pozzolans and blast-furnace slag are additives or admixtures due to their reactions with calcium hydroxide released during cement hydration. Fillers, which are finely ground and similar in fineness to Portland cement, improve concrete attributes such as workability density, and reduce capillary bleeding or cracking. Some fillers possess hydraulic properties or participate in benign reactions within the cement paste.
The...
396
Effect of Sea Water on Concrete01:22

Effect of Sea Water on Concrete

Concrete exposed to seawater can undergo degradation like the dissolution of ettringite and gypsum, increasing the material's porosity and decreasing its strength. In contrast, the crystallization of salts within the concrete's pores can cause expansion, particularly above the waterline where evaporation occurs. Nonetheless, this expansion only happens when seawater, enabled by the concrete's permeability, manages to infiltrate the structure.
Concrete in areas between tide marks,...
1.1K