Restrained Stress Development in Hardening Mortar Internally Cured with Superabsorbent Polymers under Autogenous and Drying Conditions

This study reports the results of a series of experiments, particularly paying attention to the early-age behavior and response of hardening mortars incorporating different types and contents of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) under autogenous (sealed) and drying shrinkage (unsealed) conditions. To achieve this primary aim, the effects of SAP type (i.e., cross-linking density and grain size) and content on the internal relative humidity (IRH) changes and corresponding free shrinkage behavior, restrained stress development, and cracking potential of the mortar were extensively measured and analyzed, along with their strength and set time properties. The results of this study have shown that the internal curing (IC) via SAP effectively counteracted the early-age residual stress build-up due to autogenous shrinkage, as many other former studies described. No or little tensile residual stresses due to autogenous shrinkage took place when more than 0.4% SAP was added, regardless of the SAP type. However, it should be mentioned that the addition of SAP, irrespective of its content and type, hardly improved the shrinkage cracking resistance of the mortar when directly exposed to drying environment at early ages.