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Microcracking in Concrete

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...

Creep in Concrete

Creep in Concrete

Creep refers to the time-dependent increase in strain under a sustained load, excluding other time-dependent deformations associated with shrinkage, swelling, and thermal expansion in concrete. The primary mechanism behind creep involves the loss of physically adsorbed water from the calcium silicate hydrate within the hydrated cement paste. This process is further exacerbated by concrete's non-linear stress-strain relationship, microcrack development in the interfacial transition zone, and...

Abrasion Resistance of Concrete

Abrasion Resistance of Concrete

Abrasion resistance is an essential characteristic of concrete that determines its durability and longevity under various wear conditions. Concrete surfaces are vulnerable to different types of abrasion. For instance, surfaces may wear down due to the constant movement of vehicles or be eroded by solids carried in water, as seen in concrete canal linings. Specific tests are conducted to measure the abrasion resistance of concrete.
One such test is the revolving disc test, where three plates...

Shrinkage in Concrete

Shrinkage in Concrete

Shrinkage in concrete is primarily due to water loss from evaporation, hydration of cement, or carbonation, leading to a reduction in volume. The volumetric contraction results in volumetric strain in concrete. However, in practice, shrinkage is measured as linear strain, which is one-third of the volumetric strain.
When concrete is still in its plastic state, it can undergo a decrease in volume by about 1% of its absolute volume. This decrease is known as plastic shrinkage. It arises either...

Types of Non-structural Cracks in Concrete

Types of Non-structural Cracks in Concrete

Non-structural cracks are primarily of three types: plastic, early-age thermal, and drying shrinkage cracks. Plastic cracks are further classified into plastic shrinkage cracks and plastic settlement cracks.
Plastic shrinkage cracks typically form within hours after the concrete is poured. The concrete's surface dries faster than the bottom, creating tensile stress that the still-plastic concrete cannot withstand, leading to diagonal or randomly patterned cracks on the concrete surface.
Plastic...

Sulfate Attack on Concrete

Sulfate Attack on Concrete

Sulfate attack on concrete is a deterioration process characterized by a whitish discoloration beginning at the edges and corners, accompanied by cracking and spalling. This phenomenon occurs when sulfates react with the components of hardened concrete, forming compounds like calcium sulfate and calcium sulfoaluminate which occupy more space than the substances they replace, causing the concrete to expand and disrupt.
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Moisture-driven local strain development in ASR-damaged concrete.

Seren Azad¹, Pavel Trtik¹, Markus Strobl¹

¹PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences, Villigen PSI, Switzerland.

|June 1, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study reveals that amorphous alkali-silica reaction (ASR) products swell more than crystalline ones when exposed to moisture. Neutron tomography quantified this concrete damage, highlighting ASR product behavior for durability research.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Civil Engineering
Geochemistry

Background:

Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a significant cause of concrete degradation.
The mesoscale behavior of ASR products under moisture changes is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To non-destructively quantify moisture-induced local deformation in concrete with ASR damage.
To investigate the swelling potential of different ASR product phases.

Main Methods:

Utilized neutron tomography and image registration for precise deformation measurement.
Examined concrete specimens with varying aggregate reactivity before and after water exposure.
Analyzed volumetric strain fields to pinpoint expansion locations.

Main Results:

Largest expansions were observed in cement paste cracks, associated with amorphous ASR products.
Cracks within aggregates, containing crystalline ASR phases, showed significantly less expansion.
Direct experimental evidence confirmed differential swelling based on ASR product phase.

Conclusions:

Amorphous ASR products exhibit a greater swelling potential compared to crystalline ASR phases.
Understanding ASR product behavior is crucial for predicting and mitigating concrete durability issues.
Neutron tomography is an effective tool for studying concrete mesoscale deformation.