J+- .' .

....

n
tI1 2.1.6.4. Creep and shrinkage
0;,
.;, 2.1.6.4.1. Definitions
~ The distinction between creep and shrinkage is conventional. Normally the The total strain at time t, C:c(t), of a concrete member uniaxially loaded
8.. delayed strains of loaded or unloaded concrete should be considered as two time to with a constant stress aAto) may be expressed as follows
~ aspects of a single physical phenomenon.
"8.. Also, separation of initial strain and creep strain is a matter of conven-
c:Jt) = C:ci(tO) + C:cc(t) + C:cs(t) + C:cT(t) (2.1-:
~ tion. In structural analysis, the total load dependent strain as given by the = C:cu(t) + C:cn(t) (2.1-t
creep function (refer to clause 2.1.6A.3) is of importance. The initial and
creep strain components are defined consistently, so that their sum results
in the correct load dependent strain. where

For the prediction of the creep function the initial strain C:Ci(t) is based on C:ci(tO) is the initial strain at loading
the tangent modulus of elasticity as defined in eqs (2.1-15) and (2.1-57). C:",,(t) is the creep strain at time t > to
C:cs(t) is the shrinkage strain
C:cT(t) is the thermal strain
C:cu(t) is the stress dependent strain: C:cu(t) = C:ci(tO) + C:,c(t)
C:cn(t) is the stress independent strain: C:,n(t) = C:"s(t) + C:cT(t).
2.1.6.4.2. Range of applicability
The model does not predict local rheological properties within the cross- The prediction model for creep and shrinkage given below predicts 1

section of a concrete member such as variations due to internal stresses,
moisture states or the effects of local cracking.
The prediction model is not applicable to
concrete subjected to extreme temperatures, high (e.g. nuclear
reactors) or low (e.g. LNG-tanks)
very dry climatic conditions (average relative humidity RH < 40%)
structural lightweight aggregate concrete.
The effect of temperature variations during hardening can be taken into
account in accordance with eq. (2.1-87). The effect ofOoe < T < 800e is
dealt with in subsection 2.1.8.
mean behaviour of a concrete cross-section.
Unless special provisions are given the model is valid for ordinary stn
tural concrete (12 MPa <.fck ~ 80 MPa) subjected to a compressive strl
leTcl < OA.fcm(to) at an age of loading to and exposed to mean relat
humidities in the range of 40 to 100% at mean temperatures from 5e
30C.
It is accepted that the scope of the model also extends to concrete
tension, though the relations given in the following are directed towards 1
prediction of creep of concrete subjected to compressive stresses.

2.1.6.4.3. Creep
(a) Assumptions and related basic equations
Here, concrete is considered as an ageing linear visco-elastic material. In Within the range of service stresses leTc I < OA!cm(to), creep is assumed to
reality, creep is a non-linear phenomenon. The non-linearity with respect to linearly related to stress.
creep inducing stress may be observed in creep experiments at a constant For a constant stress applied at time to this leads to

v.
w
stress, particularly if the stress exceeds OA.fcm (to)' as well as in experiments
with a variable stress history even below stresses of OA.fcm(to)'
C:cc(t, to) = -r
eTc(to)

'" </J(t, to)

(2.1-1
 In this section a so-called product formulation for the prediction of creep where ~
;J>
has been used, i.e. creep after a given duration of loading can be predicted -1
is the creep coefficient
</>(t, to) tT1
from the product of a notional creep coefficient which depends on the age ::0

Ed is the modulus of elasticity at the age of 28 days according to :>

of concrete at loading and a function describing the development of creep roo
(eq. (2.1-15) or (2.1-16)).
with time. As an alternative, creep may also be described by a summation "0

;:0

formulation as the sum of delayed elastic and of viscous strains. Advan- The stress dependent strain ero(t, to) may be expressed as
o
"0

tT1
tages and disadvantages of both approaches as well as an alternative ::0

prediction model based on a summation formulation are given in: 'Evalu-

ation of the time dependent behaviour of concrete', CEB Bulletin 199,
Lausanne, 1990.
eca(t, to) = (jAto) [I m
c to + E. CI to) ]
</>(t, = (Jc(to)J(t, to)
(2.1-62)
-1
;:;;
u:>

where

J(t, to) is the creep function or creep compliance, representing the total
stress dependent strain per unit stress
Ec(to) is the modulus of elasticity at the time of loading to according to
eq. (2.1-57); hence I/Ec(to) represents the initial strain per unit
stress at loading.

The application of the principle of superposition is consistent with respect
to the assumption of linearity. However, due to the actual non-linear
behaviour of concrete some prediction errors are inevitable when linear
superposition is applied to creep of concrete under variable stress, par-
ticularly for unloading or decreasing strains, respectively. For linear creep
For variable stresses or strains, the principle of superposition is assumed
to be valid.
On the basis of the assumptions and definitions given above, the consti-
tutive equation for concrete may be written as
(

prediction models, the error depends on the type of model which is under-
lying the creep prediction (refer to CEB Bulletin 177). ec(t) = (Jc(to)J(t, to) +f J(t, r) ~o(JJr) dr + ecn(t) (2.1-63)
'0
The structural effects of time-dependent behaviour of concrete are dealt
with in detail in section 5.8 of this Model Code and in CEB-Manual on
'Structural Effects of Time-dependent Behaviour of Concrete', CEB
Bulletin 142/142 bis, Lausanne, 1984.

(b) Creep coefficient

The relations to calculate the creep coefficient are empirical. They were The creep coefficient may be calculated from
calibrated on the basis of laboratory tests (creep in compression) on struc-
tural concretes. <I>(t, to) = </>o/3c(t - to) (2.1-64)
In this prediction model only those parameters are taken into account where
which normally are known to the designer, i.e. characteristic compressive
strength, dimensions of the member, mean relative humidity to which the </>0is the notional creep coefficient eq. (2.1-65)
member is exposed, age at loading, duration of loading and type of cement. /3cis the coefficient to describe the development of creep with time after
loading eq. (2.1-70)
It should be pointed out, however, that creep of concrete does not depend
t is the age of concrete (days) at the moment considered
on its compressive strength or age at loading per se, but rather on its
to is the age of concrete at loading (days), adjusted according to
composition and degree of hydration; creep of concrete decreases with
eqs (2.1-72) and (2.1-87).

~
Q decreasing water/cement ratio, decreasing cement content and increasing The notional creep coefficient may be estimated from
~ degree of hydration.
=; Due to the inherent scatter of creep and shrinkage deformations, the 4>0 = 4>RHfJ(.fem)f3(tO) (2.1-65)
t errors of the model and the general uncertainty caused by randomness of with
~ material properties and environment, a deformation prediction may result
~ in a considerable prediction error. After short durations of loading or 4>RH = 1 + I -
0.4
RH/RHo
. (2.1-66)
~ drying the prediction error is higher than after long durations of loading u

o and drying. Based on a computerized data bank of laboratory test results

a mean coefficient of variation for the predicted creep function v:. = 20% fJ(.fem) = 5.3 (2.1-67)
(.fem /ie
has been estimated. Assuming a normal distribution this corresponds to a
10 and 5 percent cut-off, respectively, on the lower and the upper side of the 1
mean value of fJ(to) (2.1-68)
0.1 + (to / t I )0.2
4>010= 0.744>; 4>0.05= 0.664> where
4>090= 1.264>; 4>0.95= 1.344>
h = 2Ac/u (2.1-69)
The prediction error should be taken into account in a probabilistic
approach where appropriate. !em is the mean compressive strength of concrete at the age of 28 days
(MPa) according to eq. (2.1-1)
.femo = 10 MPa
RH is the relative humidity of the ambient environment (%)
RHo = 100%
h is the notational size of member (mm), where Ac is the cross-section
and u is the perimeter of the member in contact with the
atmosphere
ho = 100mm
t] = 1 day.

It is not known whether creep approaches a finite value. Nevertheless, the The development of creep with time is given by
hyperbolic time function given in eq. (2.1-70) approaches an asymptotic
value for t -+ 00. Evaluations on the basis of test results indicate that (2.1-70)
eq. (2.1-70) is a reasonably good approximation for the time development fJAt - to) = +
[ fJH (t -(t t~ )/tt~)/tl T3
of creep up to 70 years of loading under the conditions indicated in with
Table 2.1.10. From experimental observations of creep up to 30 years one
may conclude that the increase of creep from 70 years up to 150 years of
duration of loading will not exceed 5% of the creep after 70 years. fJH = 150 { 1 + ( 1.2 RHo
RH r} h
ho + 250 :::; 1500
(2.1-71)

where

tl = 1 day
OJ>
RHo = 100%
OJ>
ho = 100 mm.
 In cases where a lower level of accuracy is sufficient, the values given in ~
;I>

Table 2.1.1 0 can be accepted as representative values for the creep coef- ..,
tI1
i"
ficient after 70 years of loading of a normal weight ordinary structural
;;
l'
concrete with a characteristic compressive strength between 20 and
'"
50 MPa. These 70 year values may be taken as final creep coefficients. i"
o'"
tI1
i"
Table 2.1.10. Creep coefficient cjJ (70y, to) of an ordinary structural concrete ..,
5i
after 70 years of loading en

1.2
2.6
l.l
1.0
3.04.1
3.9
1.8
1.7
50 3.1
150
600
4.8
3.8
2.7
1.6
2.0
2.1
1.5
3.3
3.4
2.4
1.3 2.5
6005.81.9 conditions
Dry Humid = 80%)
atmospheric
conditions
(indoors)
doors) atmospheric
(RH (out of
Age at loading
ze 2Ac/u (mm)

The data given in Table 2.1.1 0 apply for a mean temperature of the
concrete between lODe and 20De. Seasonal variations of temperature
between - 20De and + 40De can be accepted. The same is true for vari-
ations in relative humidity around the mean values given in Table 2.1.1 O.

(c) Effect of type of cement and curing temperature

For classification of different types of cement refer to Appendix d, clause The effect of type of cement on the creep coefficient of concrete may be
d.4.2.1. taken into account by modifying the age at loading to according to eq.
Different types of cement result in different degrees of hydration. ereep (2.1-72):
of concrete depends on the degree of hydration reached at a given age
rather than on the age of concrete. Therefore, the effect of type of cement
is taken into account by modifying the age at loading such that for a given to = to.T [ 2 + 9 I tl.T) 1.2
(tO,T + IJ ~0.5 days (2.1-72)

modified age the degree of hydration is approximately independent of the where

type of cement. The value for to according to eq. (2.1-72) has to be used in
eq. (2.1-68). The duration of loading t - to used in eq. (2.1-70) is the to T is the age of concrete at loading (days) adjusted according to
actual time under load. eq. (2.1-87)

- t'.T = 1 day
..
t
... -
... ............
, --

Q The creep behaviour of concrete with blended cements may as a first (J( is the power which depends on the type of cement;
~ approximation be calculated with the formulae given here. However, larger
::a prediction errors may be expected. (X = - I for slowly hardening cements SL, 0 for normal or
:!:
o0- rapid hardening cements Nand R, and 1 for rapid
!!. hardening high strength cements RS.
(j
"
8-
(d) Effect of high stresses
~ The main reasons for the non-linear behaviour are micro-cracking due to For stress levels in the range of O.4j,mCtO) < leTel < 0.6j,m(to) the non-
shrinkage or high loads and stress-induced ageing under load. linearity of creep may be taken into account using eqs (2.1-73)

Eq. (2.1-73a) represents a simplification in so far as it does not take into <PO,k <Po exp [(Xu(ku - 0.4)] for 0.4 < ku ~ 0.6 (2.1-73a)
account the observation that non-linearity decreases with increasing <PO,k <Po for ku ~ 0.4 (2.1-73b)
duration of loading and with decreasing change of moisture content during
where
loading.
is the non-linear notional creep coefficient, which replaces
<PO,k <Po in
It should be noted that delayed elastic strains upon total unloading are eq, (2.1-64)
linear functions of stress up to stress levels of leTel = 0.6.fcmCto). ku = leTel/.fcm (to) which is the stress-strength ratio
(Xu = 1.5,
For mass concrete and at very high relative humidities, the coefficient (Xu

may be as low as (Xu = 0.5.

2.1.6.4.4. Shrinkage
For curing periods of concrete members ts < 14 days at normal ambient The total shrinkage or swelling strains GesCt, ts) may be calculated from
temperatures, the duration of moist curing does not significantly affect
shrinkage. Hence, this parameter as well as the effect of curing temperature Ges(t, tJ = GcsofJs(t - ts) (2.1-74)

is not taken into account. where

In eqs (2.1-74) and (2.1-79) the actual duration of drying Ct - ts) has to
be used. It is not affected by possible adjustments of to or ts according to Geso is the notional shrinkage coefficient (eq. (2.1-75
eq s (2.1-72) and (2.1-87). J3s is the coefficient to describe the development of shrinkage with time
Similar to creep, shrinkage does not depend on concrete compressive (eq. (2.1-79
strength per se. Shrinkage decreases with decreasing water/cement ratio t is the age of concrete (days)
and decreasing cement content. ts is the age of concrete (days) at the beginning of shrinkage or swelling.

A mean coefficient of variation of predicted shrinkage has been estimated

on the basis of a computerized data bank, resulting in v:; = 35%. The The notional shrinkage coefficient may be obtained from
~ corresponding 10 and 5 percent cut-off values are Geso = Gs(.fcm)fJRH (2,1-75)
 with ~
E('.<{).IO = =
0.55E('s; E('5O.05 0.42E('s >
...,
E('sO.90= 1.45Ecs; E('sO.95= 1. 58E('s [160 + IOPs('(9 - femlfcmo)] x 10-6 (2.1-76) tT1
EsC!cm) ~
In cases where a lower level of accuracy is sufficient, the values given in ;;
where r-
[able 2.1.11 can be accepted as representative values for shrinkage of a ~
"0

lOrmal weight ordinary structural concrete with a characteristic strength fem is the mean compressive strength of concrete at the age of 28 days o
"0

tT1
)etween 20 and 50 MPa after 70 years of drying. Usually these values may (MPa) ~
!cmo = 10 MPa
...,
)e taken as final shrinkage values. 51
VJ
Psc is a coefficient which depends on the type of cement: Ps(' = 4 for
slowly hardening cements SL, Ps(' = 5 for normal or rapid harden-
fable 2.1.11. Shrinkage values E('s.70y X 103 for an ordinary structural ing cements Nand R, and Psc = 8 for rapid hardening high
:oncrete after a duration of drying of 70 years strength cements RS,

Dry atmospheric conditions Humid atmospheric conditions PRH = -1.55PsRH for 40% ~ RH < 99%
(2.1-77)
(inside) (RH = 50%) (outside) (RH = 80%)
P RH = + 0.25 for RH ~ 99%
Notional size 2Ac/u (mm) where
-0.56
150
50
-0.32
--0.26
-0.31
600
ISO 0.47
50 (2.1-78)
PsRH
= I - (RHo
RH f
with
RH is the relative humidity of the ambient atmosphere (%)
RHo = 100%.

[hough shrinkage reaches a final value, little information exists on the The development of shrinkage with time is given by
,hrinkage strains of large members after long durations of drying. There-
are, the values calculated using eq. (2.1-79) for 2A('/u = 500mm, and the (2.1-79)
Ps(t - tJ = [ 350(h/ho)2(t - +ts)/t\
(t - tJ/tl J5
ralues given in Table 2.1.11 for shrinkage of members with a notional size
)f 2A('/u = 600 mm, respectively, are uncertain and may overestimate the where
lctual shrinkage strains after 70 years of drying.
h is defined in eq. (2.1-69)
tl = I day
ho = 100 mm .

~oJj~! .~~""~,~