What's New / Hot

News and Events

ACI Spring 2010 Convention
March 21 - 25, 2010
Marriott Rivercenter Hotel & Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center -- San Antonio, TX

NRMCA Sustainable Conference
April 12 - 15, 2010
Tempe, AZ

International Parking Institute Conference & Expo
May 10 - 12, 2010
Mandolay Bay - Las Vegas, NV

International Bridge
Conference 2010

June 6 - 9, 2010
David L. Lawrence Convention Center - Pittsburgh, PA

ACI Fall 2010 Convention
October 24 - 28, 2010
The Westin Convention Center -- Pittsburgh, PA

 

Previous Next
Slide
Plastic shrinkage cracking, by definition, is cracking that occurs while the concrete is still plastic. It is actually a desiccation problem, very similar to the dried soil shown in this photo. If water is evaporating from the concrete surface faster than it is being supplied by bleeding, tensile stresses will develop in the concrete. Ultimately, these stresses will be greater than the very small ability of the still-plastic concrete to resist the stresses and cracking will result.