Creep

When concrete is loaded, the structure undergoes elastic and inelastic

deformations.
Elastic deformations occur immediately after the concrete is subjected to a
given load, according to Hookes Law.
Inelastic deformations increase with time as the concrete experiences a
sustained load. This inelastic deformation, also known as creep, increases at
a decreasing rate during the loading period.
During the first month of sustained loading, approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of the
ultimate creep takes place. As time proceeds, usually 1/2 to 3/4 of the
ultimate creep occurs during the first half year.
The amount of creep that the concrete undergoes is dependent upon
1) the magnitude of the sustained loading,
2) the age and strength of the concrete when the stress is applied,
and
3) the total amount of time that the concrete is stressed.
When the concrete is loaded, the specimen undergoes internal properties
such as closure of voids in the concrete, viscous flow of the cement-water
paste, crystalline flow in aggregates, and water flowing out of the cement
"gel" due to drying and loading.
Aggregates play an important role in both creep and shrinkage. A well
graded, coarser aggregate with a low voids content decreases the effects of
creep and shrinkage. Also, hard, dense aggregates that are not absorptive and
have a high modulus of elasticity are desirable for low shrinkage and creep
rates. Another important aspect to reducing creep is the type of curing
procedure performed prior to loading. Very little creep occurs when a highpressure steamed curing procedure is used. Atmospheric and high-pressure
steam curing produces little creep when compared to the seven-day moist
curing method. These two types of curing reduce the drying shrinkage by
half as much as they reduce creep. Other factors affecting creep include type
of cement, amount of cement paste, size and shape of concrete, amount of
reinforcement (rebar), volume-to-surface ratio, temperature, and humidity.
When a load is applied on a concrete specimen. the specimen first shows an
instantaneous deformation which is then followed by slow further increase

of deformation. This slow increase of deformation, discovered in 1907 by

Hatt,97 is called creep. Concrete specimens slowly deform in time even in
the absence of applied loads. These deformations are called shrinkage when
temperature is constant.

Factors Affecting Creep

1. Influence of Aggregate: Aggregate undergoes very little creep. It is really
the paste which is responsible for the creep. However, the aggregate
influences the creep of concrete through a restraining effect on the
magnitude of creep. The paste which is creeping under load is restrained
by aggregate which do not creep. The stronger the aggregate the more is
the restraining effect and hence the less is the magnitude of creep. Figure
8.14 shows the effect of the quality of aggregate on the magnitude of
creep. The grading, the shape, the maximum size of aggregate have been
suggested as factors affecting creep. But it is later shown that the effect
of aggregate and their properties mentioned above per se do not effect the
creep, but indirectly they affect the creep from the point of view of total
aggregate content in the concrete. The modulus of elasticity of aggregate
is one of the important factors influencing creep. It can be easily
imagined that the higher the modulus of elasticity the less is the creep.
Light weight aggregate shows substantially higher creep than normal
weight aggregate. Presumably this is because of lower modulus of
elasticity.
2.

Influence of Mix Proportions: Influence of Mix Proportions: The amount

of paste content and its quality is one of the most important factors
influencing creep. A poorer paste structure undergoes higher creep.
Therefore, it can be said that creep increases with increase in
water/cement ratio. In other words, it can also be said that creep is
inversely proportional to the strength of concrete. Broadly speaking, all
other factors which are affecting the water/cement ratio is also affecting
the creep. The following table shows the creep of concretes of different
strength.