shrinkage cracks

Studies of moisture loss from hardening monolithic cement concrete have been carried out. It was found that there is no consensus on the critical value of moisture loss from hardening concrete, at which shrinkage and cracking are possible, and there is no common understanding of the possible critical width of the shrinkage crack opening. It is shown that when the concrete hardens in air-dry conditions, its indicators, including durability, decrease by a factor of 2 or more. The critical value of moisture loss from hardening concrete was experimentally determined, which is 2 kg/m2.