Plastic shrinkage of mortars cured with a paraffin-based compound – Bimodal neutron/X-ray tomography study

Early-age drying (immediately after casting) of mortars and the corresponding plastic shrinkage were studied using bimodal neutron/X-ray computed tomography. This novel, correlative 3D imaging mode enabled studying simultaneously without any source spurious perturbation water migration loss processes together with deformations due to shrinkage. Bimodal opens up new possibilities for dynamic coupled transport in porous solids. The measurements carried out on model systems (cylindrical mortar specimens height 19 mm). study focused effect a paraffin-based curing compound. Our results confirm that when compound was applied directly onto surface sufficient amount, both evaporation rate vertical displacement (settlement) substantially reduced. shed light mechanisms action compounds.