Autogenous Shrinkage Behavior in High-Performance Concrete
Summary
Autogenous shrinkage is the spontaneous reduction in volume that occurs in cementitious materials without moisture exchange with the environment. In high-performance concrete (HPC), characterised by a low water-to-binder ratio and high cement content, this phenomenon is particularly pronounced at early ages. Self-desiccation arising from ongoing hydration generates capillary tension within the pore network, which leads to microstructural contraction. The resulting stresses can induce early-age cracking, compromise durability and impair long-term mechanical performance. Recent advances have focused on elucidating the multi-stage evolution of autogenous shrinkage—from initial chemical displacement and thermal effects to sustained contraction driven by capillary forces and chemical shrinkage. Strategies to mitigate this behaviour include internal curing using pre-wetted aggregates, the incorporation of expansive or shrinkage-reducing admixtures, tailored curing regimes and the optimisation of supplementary cementitious materials. These approaches aim to balance hydration kinetics, internal relative humidity and pore structure to enhance volumetric stability without sacrificing strength or durability.
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Autogenous Shrinkage Behavior in High-Performance Concrete publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in autogenous shrinkage behavior in high-performance concrete across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Autogenous shrinkage: Volume reduction in cementitious materials due to internal water consumption during hydration, without external moisture exchange.
Chemical shrinkage: Intrinsic decrease in solid volume as cement hydrates, contributing to self-desiccation and subsequent autogenous shrinkage.
Capillary tension: Negative pressure developed in pore water as hydration proceeds, driving contraction of the solid framework.
Self-desiccation: Reduction of internal relative humidity in a sealed cementitious system caused by ongoing hydration consuming pore water.
Internal curing: Use of pre-saturated lightweight or porous aggregates to supply water internally, mitigating self-desiccation and autogenous shrinkage.
References
- Mechanisms of autogenous shrinkage for Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) prepared with pre-wet porous fine aggregate (PFA). Journal of Building Engineering (2022).
- A Review on Chemical and Autogenous Shrinkage of Cementitious Systems. Materials (2024).
- Shrinkage Mitigation of an Ultra-High Performance Concrete Submitted to Various Mixing and Curing Conditions. Materials (2021).
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