Predicting plastic shrinkage cracking in LMC overlays

BY MICHAEL M. SPRINKEL RESEARCH SCIENTIST VIRGINIA TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH COUNCIL CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA

lastic shrinkage cracking is a potential problem when latex modified concrete (LMC) is placed on a dry, windy day. LMC has a lower water content than conventional concrete so it bleeds less. Because plastic cracking is caused by evaporation rate exceeding bleeding rate, LMCs low bleeding rate makes plastic cracking more likely. To avoid the problem, contractors must be able to predict when its likely to occur so they can

take steps to prevent it.

Data predicts critical evaporation rate

Weather data collected after a bridge overlay was placed in 1985 shows how evaporation rate affected plastic cracking (Table 1). The bridge on Route 5 over the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, Virginia, is 1,787 feet long and 24 feet wide. The l-inch minimum thickness LMC overlay was placed

in eight different pours. Three were placed in the westbound lane, June 25-28, and five in the eastbound lane, August 2-9. Plastic cracking was so bad in the westbound lane (see photo) that the overlay was removed and redone on September 26 to October 4. The overlay on the eastbound lane and the redone one on the westbound lane had no plastic cracking. Table 1 shows evaporation rates calculated by using the nomogram

TABLE 1. WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CALCULATED EVAPORATION RATES DURING LMC OVERLAY PLACEMENT
Airport data Placement date 6/25 6/26 6/27 8/5 8/6 8/7 8/8 8/9 9/26 9/30 10/1 10/2 10/4 Bridge lane W W W E E E E E W W W W W Relative humidity,% 41 59 79 56 70 80 89 79 83 56 56 81 83 Wind speed,mph 10 10 6 9 6 9 4 8 11 8 9 11 5 Air temp., F 78 64 63 79 73 75 73 78 72 75 78 69 71 Inspectors data Air temp., F 78 64 68 80 70 75 71 76 70 75 80 69 75 Concrete temp., F 84 76 81 76 77 79 75 80 74 75 81 71 77 Evap. rate, lb./ft.2/hr. 0.21 0.15 0.10 0.08 0.08 00.08 0.04 0.08 0.07 0.08 0.11 00.08 0.05

Average values for eastbound and westbound lanes:

6/25-6/28 (numerous cracks) 8/2-8/9 (no cracks) 9/26-10/4

60

68

70

80

0.15

E W

75 72

7 9

76 73

74 74

77 76

0.07 00.08

Plastic shrinkage cracks occur when water evaporates from a fresh concrete surface faster than water can bleed to the surface. Thats what happeened to this wesrbound lane of a latex modified concrete bridge overlay in Charles City County, Virginia. from the American Concrete Institutes Standard Practice for Cu ri n g Concrete (ACI 308-81). The ACI standard practice recommends taking precautions against plastic shrinkage cracking if the rate of evaporation approaches 0.2 pound/ square foot/hour. An article in Concrete Construction (December 1987, page 1033) reports the critical value to be 0.15 pound/square foot/hour for LMC overlays. But our LMC data and experience show that precautions are necessary if the evaporation rate exceeds 0.1 pound/square foot/hour. On all 3 days when plastic cracks appeared in the LMC overlay studied, the eva p o ra t i o n rate equaled or exceeded 0.1 pound/square foot/hour.

Watch the weather and be prepared

Whenever temperature, relative humidity, and wind conditions are such that evaporation rate exceeds the critical 0.1 value, contractors should be especially careful. They should take precautions such as: Building windbreaks Starting curing sooner Cooling the concrete Using fog sprays The many LMC overlays without plastic cracking prove that most of the time wet burlap can be applied soon enough after placement to p re vent cracking. But when conditions are right for plastic shrinkage, extra care is needed to pre ve n t cracking.

References 1. Crowder Construction Company, Inc., vs. Ray D. Pethtel, et al., At Law No. 61-86, Circuit Court of Virginia, Charles City County, March 22 and 23, 1988. 2. Standard Practice for Curing Concrete, ACI Manual of Concrete Practice 301-81, American Concrete Institute, Box 19150, Detroit, Michigan 48219. 3. Gebler, Steven, Predict Evaporation Rate and Reduce Plastic Shrinkage Cracks, Concrete International, April 1983, pages 19-20. 4. Sprinkel, Michael M., Overview of Latex Modified Concrete Overlays, VHTRC 85-R1, Virginia Transportation Research Council, Charlottesville, Virginia, July 1984. Note: Airport data based on average of weather conditions recorded at two airports within a 40-mile radius of bridge. Air temperature used only to verify inspectors data. Plastic shrinkage cracks occur when water evaporates from a fresh concrete surface faster than water can bleed to the surface. Thats what happened to this westbound lane of a latex modified concrete bridge overlay in Charles City County, Virginia.

PUBLICATION #C880672
Copyright 1988, The Aberdeen Group All rights reserved