Civil Engineering - Concrete Technology - Discussion

Drying shrinkage is defined as the contracting of a hardened concrete mixture due to the loss of capillary water. This shrinkage causes an increase in tensile stress, which may lead to cracking, internal warping, and external deflection, before the concrete is subjected to any kind of loading.

Concrete shrinks after drying due to loss of water by evaporation which results in shrinkage cracks.

Proper curing is hence required to contain the shrinkage cracks.

It shrink because of capillary pressure.

@Bhagyashree.

It is not so that the water will evaporate and concrete will get compact.

Only thing is that the chemical process will going on inside the concrete structure thats why it get shrinks.

Curing is done to protect the inside chemical action against evaporate to get strengthen the structure.

If the curing is not done within the time then the structure will definitely cracks, and may chance to collapse.

What is the process of that ordinary cement concrete will shrinks after casting on drying?

I guess its because water is evaporated and the concrete becomes compact.