ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the mechanisms and factors influencing the magnitude of all the components of this behaviour, i.e. shrinkage, elastic response and creep, and also consider thermally induced strains. It deals with the behaviour of hexagonal close-packed and concrete when mature, but some mention of age effects will be made. Deformation of concrete results both from environmental effects, such as moisture gain or loss and heat, and from applied stress, both short- and long-term. The drying shrinkage of concrete is less than that of neat cement paste because of the restraining influence of the aggregate which, apart from a few exceptions, is dimensionally stable under changing moisture states. The rate and amount of carbonation depend in part on the relative humidity of the surrounding air and within the concrete. In common with most other materials, cement paste and concrete expand on heating.
