Synergistic Benefits of Using Expansive and Shrinkage Reducing Admixture on High-Performance Concrete

High-performance concrete (HPC) is widely used in construction according to great mechanical properties, but it has a high risk of shrinkage cracking due to autogenous shrinkage stress. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the effect of a combination of expansive admixture (EA) and shrinkage reducing admixture (SA) on the autogenous shrinkage of high-performance concrete without heat treatment. Two different EA to cement weight ratios of 0.0, 5.0%, and two different SA to cement weight ratios of 0.0, and 1.0% were combined and considered. To investigate the differences in the time-zero conditions effect on the autogenous shrinkage behaviors, four different initial points were compared. The test results indicate that the EA and/or SA content was conductive to a little bite increase compressive strength (22.6–37.9%) and tensile strength (<4.8%). According to the synergistic effect of the EA and SA on the HPC, the autogenous shrinkage significantly decreased (<50%), as compared to those specimens with only one type of admixture (EA or SA). Furthermore, all the specimens incurred restrained autogenous shrinkage cracks at an early age, except the specimen using the combined EA and SA. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combination of EA and SA is effective for improving the properties of HPC.