ABSTRACT
Cracking due to autogenous shrinkage is difficult to control, because densifying the microstructure of concrete by reducing the water-binder ratio utilizing mineral admixtures, such as fly ash and granulated blast-furnace slag, is an intrinsic part of the performance enhancement. The relatively weak shrinkage-reducing effect of curing also makes such crack control difficult. The purpose of performance enhancement includes not only increasing the strength but also eliminating the factors adversely affecting the durability of concrete, such as temperature cracking and defective consolidation during placing.
