A review on concrete creep characteristics and its evaluation on high-strength lightweight concrete

This study conducted a comprehensive investigation into concrete creep. First, the creep mechanisms and parameters of high-strength lightweight concrete (HSLC) were introduced. Then, creep characteristics of high-strength concrete (HSC) and lightweight concrete (LWC) were analyzed and reviewed. It has been shown that HSC can improve creep resistance by making the cement matrix dense through incorporation of admixtures such as silica fume or changing the curing conditions. In addition, the porous characteristics of the lightweight material weakened the stiffness of the LWC and negatively affected the creep properties. It is unclear whether HSLC can be applied to the existing creep model because high-strength and lightweight characteristics show conflicts of creep properties. In this study, creep experiments were performed to evaluate the suitability with the creep models using three HSLC mixtures. Among them, the Comité Euro-International Du Béton and Fédération Internationale de la Précontrainte (CEB-FIP) creep model is not only applicable to HSC, but also has the oven-dried density as a parameter, so it was found to be the most suitable model for HSLC. Furthermore, HSLC showed a comparable creep coefficient with conventional normal-weight HSC, which has similar compressive strength despite securing lightness and showed excellent creep resistance. It is expected that HSLC may provide a new approach and solution in the construction industry and improve its feasibility.