An Approach to Link Shrinkage and Creep of Hardened Cement Paste by a New Evaluation Method

It is shown that creep velocity is proportional to that part of swelling or shrinkage which is caused by a change in particle distance. To prove this it has been outlined first that shrinkage and swelling are caused by two mechanisms: (1) expansion or contraction of gel particles due to a change in surface energy, and (2) an expansion or contraction of the whole structure, that is, a change in particle distance. Both effects can be distinguished from one another, because they are dominant in the respective region of water vapor pressure. Finally, creep velocity is also dependent on the water content. It is raised in the upper water vapor pressure region where particle distances are enlarged too. The theoretical explanation is made by adopting the “Munich Model” for describing hardened cement paste.