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Creep of cement paste preloaded at high temperature and prepared from

Portland cement

Conference Paper · July 2011

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 Recent Researches in Geography, Geology, Energy, Environment and Biomedicine

Creep of cement paste preloaded at high temperature and prepared

from Portland cement
PAVEL PADEVĚT, PETR BITTNAR
Department of Mechanics
Czech Technical University in Prague
Thákurova 7, 166 29, Prague 6
CZECH REPUBLIC
pavel.padevet@fsv.cvut.cz petr.bittnar@fsv.cvut.cz http://www.fsv.cvut.cz

Abstract: Between one of the basic properties is a creep of cement paste, it is important for design of concrete
structures. In the paper are described experimental results of measuring of the cement pastes creep. For
measuring was selected only cement CEM I and prepared pastes with water cement ratio from 0.5. Creep of
paste was measured especially for water dried specimens. For the specimens was applied temperature heating
of 300 °C. Finally, mechanical properties of material were measured. Measurement of specimens for testing
was for cylindrical specimens with diameter 10mm and length 70 mm. Small specimens were tested in the
special creep test equipment and in the testing equipment for the uniaxial compression tests. History of creep,
material properties, history of specimens are used like an inputs for simulation by finite element method, which
is presented.

Key-Words: Cement paste, shrinkage, creep of cement paste, concrete specimen, compression test, lever
mechanism, high temperature.

1 Introduction
Knowledge of material properties of concrete is
important for design concrete structures. Between
one of the primary properties is a creep of concrete.
Concrete is composite material consisted from
ingredients namely the cement, water, aggregates
and various additives. Basic part of concrete is
cement paste, which perform like a binder of
aggregates and sand particles. Cement and water
create component part – cement paste which is
bonding agent for aggregates. Properties of cement
paste are basic properties of concrete; it is one of
practicable view on the material. From good
knowledge of cement paste properties is possible
define properties of concrete, e.g. creep.
Size of creep is very important for design
concrete structures. For the design of sensible
concrete structures is necessary solve problems with
influence of the creep. Design of concrete structures
is possible influence by coefficient of creep, it is
used for compute the creep strain εcc(∞,t0).
εcc(∞,t0) = φ(∞,t0) (σc / Ecm(t0)) (1)
where is:
φ(∞,t0) - coefficient of creep,
σc - stress in concrete,
Ecm(t0) - Modulus of elasticity in time.
Formula (1) is applicable only if is in the
beginning of loading σc < 0.45 fck(t0), where fck(t0) is
cube strength of concrete.
Mathematical simulations [1] of concrete creep
are based on the important material properties of
cement like strength of cement paste and Modulus
of Elasticity. Paper is focused on the measuring of
strength of cement paste, Modulus of elasticity, size
of creep and shrinkage of cement paste prepared
form Portland cement CEM I, with w/c ratio 0.5.
Other parameters and properties for simulations
of the concrete creep are: mass, specific humidity of
specimens and curves of the creep of cement paste,
cement content, water-cement ratio, aggregate-
cement ratio, geometry of specimen, Poisson’s ratio
and history of the loading. Mass is calculated from
specimen’s volume and its weight before start of
measuring of creep. In the testing equipment are
tested water saturated and dried specimens. Specific
humidity is calculated from volume of specimen and
a change of weight the specimen. Achieved results
of measuring are used for simulation of cement
paste creep.
Curves of creep and shrinkage are measured by
lever mechanisms, especially developed for
homogenous materials. The strength of cement paste
and Modulus of Elasticity are determined from

ISBN: 978-1-61804-022-0 461

 Recent Researches in Geography, Geology, Energy, Environment and Biomedicine

compression tests of the cement paste specimens.
2 Tested specimens
Cement pastes usually achieve the high values of
strength. If area of loading is large, then is necessary
apply high load for achieving correct level of
loading. It is reason for reduction of specimen’s
loading area. The same type of specimens is used
for the creep and compression tests. Cylindrical
specimens are made into the plastic moulds (Fig. 1).
Sufficient length of specimens is 70 mm for
testing cement paste creep. By the optoelectronic
probe is possible achieved good results
measurement of the creep. Diameter is 10 mm for
all specimens made in the moulds. Area of specimen
is78 mm2 for application of load.
Specimens for this set of tests were prepared
from Portland cement CEM I 42.5R [7], it is pure
Portland cement without additives.
Specimens were made with water-cement ratio
0.5. Water cement ratio (w/c) is the weight
proportion of the water and cement. Cement mixture
was sufficiently liquid (w/c = 0.5), it was possible
pour it into the moulds.
during 1 hour. After then specimens were heated of
300 °C during 2.5 hours. The specimens were next
20 hours cooled at temperature 20 °C,
unaffectedness. Properties of the specimens are
displayed in Table 1. Only specimen No. 6 was not
dried before testing. It was saturated for common
humidity. Average volume density (for 5 dried
specimens) was 1826 kg/m3.
3 Testing equipment
Lever mechanism (Fig. 2) [2], equipment for creep
measuring and shrinkage of cement paste was
developed like special equipment for creep tests of
homogenous materials.
Stationary load is applied to the specimen. A size
of the applied load depends on the weight of plumb
and location of plumb at the lever. The
measurement of deformation is realized by using
three optoelectronic probes. The length of
deformation is whole length of specimen, which is
placed into the lever mechanism. By the gauges are
measured axial deformations. The average
deformation is calculated after termination of
measuring.

Fig. 1: Specimens before their preparation for creep tests.

All specimens were before testing heated in the

temperature cube. Temperature was applied for the Fig. 2: Lever mechanism – device for testing creep
specimens by below described advancement. of homogenous materials.

Specimen Condition Volume Loss of In executed experiments were used specimens

density weight with diameter 10 mm. The applied loads were
(kg/m3) (%) approximately between 740 and 760 N. For the
1 Dried 1823 18.7 measuring of the specimens shrinkage was load 76
2 Dried 1829 18.2 N applied. The loads applied at specimens were
3 Dried 1821 18.4 constant for whole period measuring.
4 Dried 1828 18.2 Specimens were firstly placed into the lever
5 Dried 1830 17.8 mechanism and after then systems were loaded by
6 Common 2114 - plumbs. Measuring the deformation was start after
humidity specimen placing into the lever mechanism. Period
Table 1: Properties of specimens before testing. of measuring was from 43 days. The plumbs were
taken off before finishing of measuring. After then,
Specimens were heated from 20 °C to the 300 °C all specimens were taken out of lever mechanisms
and prepared for compression testing.

ISBN: 978-1-61804-022-0 462

 Recent Researches in Geography, Geology, Energy, Environment and Biomedicine

Measuring of the material properties [3] was Measuring of material properties was executed after
realized in the MTS Alliance RT 30 tensile testing finishing creep tests. Weights of the specimens were
machine. By MTS Alliance were tested: checked before start of compression tests.
• Strength in compression, In the Table 2 are displayed results of
• Young’s Modulus of Elasticity. compression tests of the specimens. 6 specimens
were tested in the series (w/c 0.5). Specimens in w/c
Parameters of material properties were measured 0.5 series had values of strength from 54.9MPa to
110.5 MPa. The lowest values of compression
during the testing continuously. The Modulus of
strength were achieved for specimen tested in
Elasticity and compression strength was computed
shrinkage test. To the average value of strength
from data of measuring [9]. Young’s Modulus of 84.8 MPa had extreme values of strength specimen
Elasticity [8] was calculated like a secant, linking No. 2 and 5.
the start and value at stress-strain curve which
correspond to the 1/3 of the strength. Specimen Strength Modulus
For measuring of strain was used extensometer 1 61.423 12,72
with measurement length 25 mm. The extensometer 2 54.94 12.722
was placed in axial direction at middle part of the 3 109.58 13.18
specimen (Fig. 3). 4 95.495 12.261
5 110,58 11.33
6 77.023 10.534
Table 2: Strength and Modulus of Elasticity of the
specimens.

At next figures are pictured graphs of the

compression tests (Fig.4 to Fig. 9).

Specimen 1, CEM I, w/c 0.5

70
60
Fig. 3: Specimen after the compression test. The
Stress (MPa)

50
extensometer is connected on the specimen. 40
30
20
10
4 Results 0
0 0,001 0,002 0,003 0,004 0,005 0,006
Firstly, specimens were tested in lever Strain (*0.001)
mechanisms. Results of creep and shrinkage were
achieved from tests in lever mechanism. In all series Fig. 4: Specimen No.1 – compression test.
were tested 6 specimens. Specimens tested in creep
tests were loaded by load 740 N. Creep tests were Specimen 2, CEM I, w/c 0.5
executed in two conditions. The specimen No. was
60
represented like a specimens with common
50
laboratory humidity. The other one specimens were
Stress (MPa)

40
represented by drying of water from specimens.
30
Dried specimens were tested in the water dried
20
conditions (after temperature heating). The
10
shrinkage was tested in dried condition, too. Three
0
specimens were tested on creep test (dry condition) 0 0,001 0,002 0,003 0,004 0,005 0,006
and two specimens were for shrinkage. Specimen Strain (*0.001)

No. 6 was tested in the creep test.

Fig. 5: Specimen No.2 – compression test.
Specimens were covered by plastic wrap before
the creep and shrinkage tests. All specimens were 2
years old.
Values of compressive strength were acquired
from stress-strain diagrams of specimens.

ISBN: 978-1-61804-022-0 463

 Recent Researches in Geography, Geology, Energy, Environment and Biomedicine

Specimen 3, CEM I, w/c 0.5 CEM I, w/c 0.5, dry, load 300°C

120
60
100
Stress (MPa)

80 40

Deformation (*0,001mm)
60
20
40

20 0
0 0,0 10,0 20,0 30,0 40,0 50,0
0 0,002 0,004 0,006 0,008 0,01 -20
Strain (*0.001)
-40
Fig. 6: Specimen No.3 – compression test.
-60
Time (days)

Specimen 4, CEM I, w/c 0.5 Fig. 10: Specimen No.1 – creep test.
120

100 CEM I, w/c = 0.5, dry, load 300°C

Stress (MPa)

80
80
60
60
40
Deformation (*0,001 mm)
20 40

0 20
0 0,002 0,004 0,006 0,008 0,01
Strain (*0.001) 0
0 10 20 30 40 50
-20
Fig. 7: Specimen No.4 – compression test.
-40

-60
Specimen 5, CEM I, w/c 0.5 Time (days)

120
Fig. 11: Specimen No.2 – creep test.
100
Stress (MPa)

80
CEM I, w/c 0.5, dry, load, 300°C
60

40 60

20 40
Deformation (*0,001 mm)

0 20
0 0,002 0,004 0,006 0,008 0,01
Strain (*0.001) 0
0 10 20 30 40 50
-20
Fig. 8: Specimen No.5 – compression test.
-40

-60
Specimen 6, CEM I, w/c 0.5
-80
90 Time (days)
80
70
Fig. 12: Specimen No.3 – creep test.
Stress (MPa)

60
50
40
30
CEM I, w/c 0.5, shrinkage
20
10 10
0
0
0 0,002 0,004 0,006 0,008 0,01
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Strain (*0.001) -10
Deformation (0,001 mm)

-20

Fig. 9: Specimen No.6 – compression test. -30

-40

-50
Next graphs represent the curves from creep and
-60
shrinkage tests. Specimens No. 1, 2, 3 and 6 were -70

tested in creep test. Specimens No. 4 and 5 were -80

Time (days)
tested in shrinkage test (Fig.10 to Fig. 15).
Fig. 13: Specimen No.4 – shrinkage test.

ISBN: 978-1-61804-022-0 464

 Recent Researches in Geography, Geology, Energy, Environment and Biomedicine

Drying creep, No.2

CEM I, w/c 0.5, shrinkage
70

Deformation (*0.001mm)
10,00
60
0,00
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 50
Deformation (*0.001 mm)

-10,00
40
-20,00
30
-30,00
20
-40,00
10
-50,00
0
-60,00 0 10 20 30 40 50
-70,00 Time (days)
Time (days)

Fig. 14: Specimen No.5 – shrinkage test. Fig. 17: Specimen No.2 – drying creep, without
shrinkage.
CEM I, w/c 0.5, non dried

200
Drying creep, No. 3
180
50
160
Deformation (*0,001 mm)

Deformation (*0.001)
140 40
120
100 0 30
80
20
60
40 10
20
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 0 10 20 30 40 50
Time (ays)
Time (days)

Fig. 15: Specimen No.6 – creep test. Fig. 18: Specimen No.3 – drying creep, without
shrinkage.
The graphs of evolution the creep
deformation displayed at Fig. 10 – 15 include
Creep of non dryed specimen No.6
their shrinkage. Pure dry creep is possible
obtain if is subtract influence of the shrinkage. 300
Deformation (*0.001mm)

250
At next graph (Fig. 16 – 19) are displayed creep 200
curves without influence of shrinkage. From 150
pictures is visible influence of the shrinkage on 100

size of the creep. Water content in cement paste 50

influences of size of creep definitely (Fig. 19). 0

0 10 20 30 40 50
Time (days)

Drying creep, No 1
Fig. 19: Specimen No.6 – creep of the specimens
90 saturated for common laboratory humidity , without
Deformation (*0.001mm)

80
70 shrinkage.
60
50
40
30
20
10
5 Summary
0 In experimental parts of work was determined value
0 10 20 30 40 50
Time (days) of compression strength and for Modulus of
Elasticity, curves of creep and shrinkage for cement
Fig. 16: Specimen No.1 – drying creep, without pastes. The value of compression strength of the pre
shrinkage. dried cement paste was 84.8 MPa. Average
Modulus of elasticity for cement paste was
12.44 GPa. It is rather low value, but specimens
were heated of 300 °C before testing [6]. The values
of compression strength depend at kind of cement,
too [7].

ISBN: 978-1-61804-022-0 465

 Recent Researches in Geography, Geology, Energy, Environment and Biomedicine

Content of water in cement paste mixture
influences size of creep (without shrinkage). For
specimen No. 6 was size of creep 200 µm. Drying
creep achieves only values from 5 to 20 µm.
Achieved values were measured during 40 days.
Deformation from load by plumb was subtracted in
all cases.
Conformity between simulation and experiment
illustrate that model B3 [4] is suitable for analysis of the
creep of cement paste. At picture Fig.20 is presented
simulation of drying creep of specimen No.2. Model B3
is often used for prediction of creep and shrinkage of the
concrete constructions. Relations for determining of
parameters (q1, q2, q3 and q4 for basic creep) are set-in
the model B3. By setting of parameters q was realized
simulation. In this case is possible say about good
relation, because drying shrinkage during 25 days (used
for model) was small.
[5] Patzák B., OOFEM project home page,
http://www.oofem.org, 2000.
[6] A. M. Neville, “Properties of Concrete”, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1997.
[7] Padevět P., Bittnar P., “Measuring of Creep of
Cement Paste Specimen”, Proceedings of the
2nd WSEAS International Conference on
Applied Mathematics, Simulation, Modeling
(ASM’09), Athens, Greece, 2009, pp. 33-39.
[8] Neville, A.M., Properties of Concrete, John
Wiley & Sons, (1997), ISBN 0-470-23527-6 .
[9] Van Mier, J.G.M., Fracture Processes of
Concrete CRC Press (1997), ISBN 0-8493-
9123-7.

Fig. 20: Simulation of creep by model B3; for

specimen No.2.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by project GACR under

No. P104/11/2285.

References:
[1] Patzák B., Bittnar Z., “Design of Object
Oriented Finite Element Code” Advance in
Engineering Software, 32 (10 – 11), pp. 759 –
767.
[2] Padevět P., Bittnar P., “Measurement of Creep
of the Cement Paste” Specimen, Acta
Mechanica Slovaka 3/99, pp. 133–136.
[3] Padevět P., “Mechanical Properties of Cement
Pastes”, International Confernce 70 Yeasr SvF
STU. Bratislava, 2008.
[4] Bažant Z.P., Baweja S., “Creep and Shrinkage
Prediction Model for Analysis and Design of
Concrete Structure – Model B3”, Materials and
Structures, Vol. 28, pp. 357-365, 1995.

ISBN: 978-1-61804-022-0 466

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