Monitoring the Viscoelastic Behaviour of Cement Based Materials by Means of Repeated Minute-Scale-Duration Loadings

Abstract

This chapter presents a new methodology developed to monitor the E-modulus and the ageing of the short term creep simultaneously. The methodology is based on a repeated minute-scale-duration loadings test for which periodically a loading is applied and kept constant during few minutes and finally removed. The repeated minute-scale-duration loadings test is used to quantify the E-modulus when the load is applied or removed and the aging creep when the load is kept constant or till the moment that the load is applied. This methodology is coupled to a permanent loading which allows characterizing creep for long duration. Different test setups and protocols of loading were developed in three laboratories to monitor the ageing of the E-modulus and the creep function on concrete or cement paste since setting or one day after casting. This chapter reports on the differences between the devices used, between the protocols of loading and between the data analysis. Different applications of the repeated minute-scale-duration loadings test are also presented.