ABSTRACT
The hydrated cement paste is the major source of shrinkage and relaxation in cement-based concrete patch repair materials. It plays an important role as far as shrinkage-induced cracking is concerned. The water:binder ratio (which will also be referred to as the water:cement ratio interchangeably) is directly related to the pore system of the paste. The porosity of the paste, and its associated interconnectivity, influences important crack-determining material properties such as: tensile strength, elastic modulus and permeability (Yurtdas et al., 2006; Abdelkader et al., 2010). The water:binder ratio also influences creep and shrinkage; and has been reported by Banthia and Gupta (2009) as one of the most important factors affecting shrinkageinduced cracking. While the relationship between the water:cement ratio and compressive strength is direct and well established, its relationship with cracking is quite complex and incorporates other factors inter alia.
