Development of model parameters for early-age properties and crack-width prediction of slag concretes

A study to develop the parameters of the models for predicting the deformation characteristics of normal-strength concrete incorporating slag-blended cements at early age is presented in this paper. By comparing with the previous experimental results, it was found that the basic shrinkage and creep factor decreased significantly owing to the expansion of slag concrete during the first week of moist curing. When utilising the developed models for estimating the crack width, it was found that the initial crack width of concrete subjected to restraint drying shrinkage is reduced if the slag content level increased up to 50 and 65% in the concrete mixture. Further, slag concrete tends to have less crack width and lower number of cracks in the long term compared with that with no slag.