Abstract

This research explores the influence of internal curing on time dependent strains under no water exchange with the environment, i.e., basic creep and autogenous shrinkage. The behavior of high-performance concrete mixtures (HPC) containing pre-wetted lightweight aggregate (HPLC-1) for internal curing was compared to companion mixtures containing air-dried lightweight aggregate (HPLC-2). It was found that internally stored water reduced basic creep in direct relation to the amount of water held in the aggregate. Reductions in basic creep, up to 49%, were found between dry and pre-wetted lightweight aggregate mixtures. Further, internally stored water reduced autogenous shrinkage to the extent that actual expansion occurred proportional to the amount of internal water.