Modeling autogenous shrinkage of hydrating cement paste by estimating the meniscus radius

In this study, a model for predicting the autogenous shrinkage of hydrating cement paste was developed by estimating the radius of meniscus, which varies with age. The meniscus radius was estimated by considering the pore structure that varies with age, and the amount of water consumed by the hydration reaction. The proposed model was verified through a comparison with test data, with respect to the self-desiccation estimated from the meniscus radius and autogenous shrinkage of cement paste with different water-to-cement ratios. While considering poroelastic behavior, the proposed model predicted autogenous shrinkage of cement paste with reasonable accuracy. It was shown that the amount of water consumed by the hydration reaction increases the autogenous shrinkage; however, the pore structure has a greater effect on the magnitude of autogenous shrinkage. The proposed model is expected to be useful in predicting autogenous shrinkage of concrete without measuring the internal relative humidity.