Effect of water-to-cement ratio on cracking resistance of concrete at early age in restrained ring specimens

Nowadays, low water-to-cement (w/c) ratio has been put into widespread use in engineering practice. However, w/c may give rise to high self-desiccation, which lead the decrease of early-age cracking resistance. Investigating impact on resistance is utterly meaningful better understand mechanism concrete. corresponding investigations remain lacking, especially when ring test utilized. In present study, tests for three concrete mixtures with different ratios were conducted investigate from multiple parameters. Results showed that (i) development rate shrinkage mixture W50 was slower than W33 and W40; (ii) value residual stress decreased increased; (iii) relaxed all developed rapidly at very early age, reached maximum quickly; (iv) increased age.