Deysel, Renier ChristiaanBoshoff, W.P. (Billy)Smit, Martha Sophia2024-05-142024-05-142023-09Deysel, R.C., Boshoff, W.P., Smit, M.S. 2023, 'Implementing capillary pressure control measures to prevent plastic shrinkage cracking in concrete', Construction and Building Materials, vol. 397, art. 132407, pp. 1-11. https://DOI.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132407.0950-0618 (print)1879-0526 (online)10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132407http://hdl.handle.net/2263/95936DATA AVAILABILITY : Data will be made available on request.Plastic shrinkage cracking occurs when fresh concrete is drying and restrained from deformation, which typically results in cracking. The tensile stresses causing cracking result from the negative capillary pressure that develops in the drying concrete. This study developed a model that uses live in-situ capillary pressure measurements in fresh concrete to control the capillary pressure response to prevent plastic shrinkage cracking at any reasonable evaporation rate, making it a valuable tool for preventing plastic shrinkage cracking.en© 2023 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.Plastic shrinkagePlastic shrinkage crackingFresh concreteTensiometersCapillary pressureNo cracking capillary pressure boundary modelEmpirical modelSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureArticle