Effect of metakaolin on creep and shrinkage of concrete

The effect of metakaolin (MK) on the creep and shrinkage of concrete mixes containing 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% MK has been investigated. The results showed that the early age autogenous shrinkage measured from the time of initial set of the concrete was reduced with the inclusion of MK, but the long-term autogenous shrinkage measured from the age of 24 h was increased. At 5% replacement level, the effect of MK was to increase the total autogenous shrinkage considered from the time of initial set. While at replacement levels of 10% and 15%, it reduced the total autogenous shrinkage. The total shrinkage (autogenous plus drying shrinkage) measured from 24 h was reduced by the use of MK, while drying shrinkage was significantly less for the MK concretes than for the control concrete. The total creep, basic creep as well as drying creep were significantly reduced particularly at higher MK replacement levels. Compared with estimated values by the CEB 90 model, total creep of all concretes was overestimated, especially in the mixes containing the higher levels of MK. For basic creep, estimates for low levels of MK were acceptable but, for the higher levels, creep was overestimated