A Study on the Reduction of Water Loss and Shrinkage of Concrete Pavements by Using Finely Ground Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) Combined with Lightweight and Coarse Sand

Thai-Binh Le; Viet-Thuc Chu; Van-Chinh Nguyen

doi:10.48084/etasr.14599

Authors

Thai-Binh Le Faculty of Mechanical Automotive and Civil Engineering, Electric Power University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Viet-Thuc Chu Department of Research Management and International Cooperation, Electric Power University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Van-Chinh Nguyen Faculty of Mechanical Automotive and Civil Engineering, Electric Power University, Hanoi, Vietnam

Volume: 15 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 30446-30451 | December 2025 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.14599

Received: 8 September 2025 | Revised: 12 October 2025 | Accepted: 22 October 2025 | Online: 8 December 2025

Corresponding author: Viet-Thuc Chu

Abstract

This study investigates water loss and shrinkage in cement concrete, utilizing Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and a combination of Lightweight Sand (LS) and Coarse Sand (CS) as admixtures under hot-humid conditions. The study evaluates the effects of GGBFS, and LS and CS on reducing shrinkage and improving moisture retention. Standard concrete mixtures were prepared and tested under controlled and outdoor conditions with different combinations of GGBFS, LS, and CS. Water loss and plastic shrinkage were measured during the first hours of casting, followed by drying shrinkage evaluations up to 90 days. The results indicate that GGBFS significantly decreased water loss during curing, improved aggregate packing density, and reduced plastic shrinkage compared with control mixtures. At later ages, mixtures with GGBFS, and LS and CS demonstrated lower drying shrinkage and enhanced dimensional stability. These findings provide practical insights for internally cured concrete, with direct application to cement concrete pavements. The novelty of this work lies in combining GGBFS with LS and CS under tropical hot-humid conditions.

Keywords:

concrete shrinkage, ground granulated blast furnace slag, internal curing concrete, lightweight sand, coarse sand

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