EN 12390-16:2019

Testing hardened concrete - Part 16: Determination of the shrinkage of concrete

This document specifies the procedure for the determination of total shrinkage of concrete specimens in drying conditions.
NOTE 1 Possible shrinkage or length changes occurring before 24 h of age, and which could have significant amplitude and/or consequences, in case of restraint, could need to be measured according to a complementary procedure not covered by this document.
NOTE 2 Information on a simplified procedure for the determination of autogenous shrinkage is given in Annex A.
The test is suitable for specimens having a declared value of D of the coarsest fraction of aggregates actually used in the concrete (Dmax) not greater than 32 mm.

Prüfung von Festbeton - Teil 16: Bestimmung des Schwindens von Beton

Dieses Dokument legt das Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Gesamtschwindens von Betonprobekörpern unter Trocknungsbedingungen fest.
ANMERKUNG 1 Bei möglichem Schwinden oder Längenänderungen, die vor einem Alter von 24 h auftreten und im Fall einer Dehnungsbehinderung einen erheblichen Umfang und/oder erhebliche Auswirkungen haben könnten, kann eine Messung nach einem ergänzenden Verfahren notwendig sein, das nicht in dem vorliegenden Dokument enthalten ist.
ANMERKUNG 2 Informationen zu einem vereinfachten Verfahren zur Bestimmung des autogenen Schwindens sind in Anhang A angeführt.
Die Prüfung ist geeignet für Probekörper mit einem Nennwert von D der gröbsten der im Beton verwendeten Gesteinskörnungen (Dmax) von höchstens 32 mm.

Essais pour béton durci - Partie 16 : Détermination du retrait du béton

Le présent document spécifie le mode opératoire pour déterminer le retrait total des éprouvettes de béton dans des conditions de dessiccation.
NOTE 1   Le retrait ou les modifications de longueur, susceptibles de se produire dans les premières 24 h et d’avoir une ampleur et/ou des conséquences significatives, par exemple en cas de retrait gêné, pourraient nécessiter un mesurage selon un mode opératoire complémentaire qui n’est pas couvert par le présent document.
NOTE 2   Des informations sur un mode opératoire simplifié pour la détermination d’un retrait endogène sont disponibles dans l’Annexe A.
L’essai est adapté aux éprouvettes ayant une valeur déclarée D de la partie la plus grosse des granulats réellement utilisés dans le béton (Dmax) ne dépassant pas 32 mm.

Preskušanje strjenega betona - 16. del: Določanje krčenja betona

Ta dokument določa postopek za določanje skupnega krčenja betonskih preskušancev pri določenih pogojih sušenja.
OPOMBA 1: Možno krčenje ali spremembe dolžine pred starostjo 24 h, ki imajo opazno amplitudo in/ali posledice, npr. za visokozmogljiv beton in/ali v primeru zadrževanja, je morda treba izmeriti v skladu z dopolnilnim postopkom, ki ni zajet v tem standardu.
OPOMBA 2: Informacije o poenostavljenem postopku za določanje avtogenega krčenja so podane v dodatku A.
Preskus je primeren za preskušance, pri katerih je deklarirana vrednost D najbolj grobega agregata, ki je dejansko uporabljen v betonu (Dmax), največ 32 mm.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Apr-2020
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 104 - Concrete ( performance, production, placing and compliance criteria )
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 104/SC 1 - Revision of ENV 206
• Current Stage: 9092 - Decision on results of review/2YR ENQ - revise - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 10-Nov-2025
• Completion Date: 26-Nov-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 12390-16:2019 - Testing hardened concrete - Part 16: Determination of the shrinkage of concrete

Overview

EN 12390-16:2019 (CEN) - Testing hardened concrete: Part 16 - specifies the procedure for the determination of total shrinkage of concrete specimens in drying conditions. It defines specimen preparation, environmental conditions, measuring apparatus and measurement schedules to quantify length changes (total, drying and autogenous shrinkage) for concrete with a declared maximum aggregate size (Dmax) ≤ 32 mm. Annex A gives a simplified procedure for measuring autogenous shrinkage.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & applicability
  • Measurement of total shrinkage of hardened concrete specimens in controlled drying conditions.
  • Suitable for specimens with Dmax ≤ 32 mm.
  • Based on ISO 1920‑8 and part of the EN 12390 series.
• Specimens
  • Cylinders, prisms or cores complying with EN 12390‑1 / EN 12504‑1.
  • Recommended L/d ratio between 2 and 7; at least two specimens recommended.
  • Demoulding at (24 ± 1) h after casting; casting within 1 h of initial cement–water contact.
• Environmental control
  • Drying room or cabinet with air circulation, temperature (20 ± 2) °C and relative humidity typically targeted 50–70 % (±5 %). Air velocity near specimens ≤ 0.5 m/s.
• Measuring system & accuracy
  • Length change devices resolution ≥ 0.001 mm.
  • Maximum permissible error: ±0.01 mm for gauge lengths ≥ 400 mm; ±0.005 mm for shorter gauge lengths.
  • Callipers/rules tolerance: ±2.0 mm (≥ 400 mm) or ±1.0 mm (< 400 mm).
  • Balance with max permissible error ±0.02 % of mass.
  • Use of gauge studs (embedded or adhesive) or end studs; gauge length at least half the specimen length.
• Measurement schedule & calculation
  • Initial measurement soon after placing specimens in the drying room (t0); typical follow-ups at t0+7, +14, +28 and +56 days (±1 day). Additional ages optional.
  • Total shrinkage strain ε(t,t0) computed from measured length change relative to gauge length.
• Quality checks
  • Reporting of means, ranges and an alert if spread exceeds specified thresholds (related to uncertainty).

Applications & who uses it

• Used by laboratories, concrete producers, researchers and construction quality controllers to:
  • Assess drying shrinkage for mix design validation and durability assessments.
  • Compare shrinkage performance of binders, admixtures, aggregates or curing regimes.
  • Provide input data for structural design checks (cracking risk, restraint effects) and serviceability models.
• Relevant for engineers focused on concrete durability, precast manufacturers, testing laboratories and standards compliance teams.

Related standards

• EN 12390 series (Parts 1–17) - testing hardened concrete
• EN 12350‑1 - Sampling and common apparatus for fresh concrete
• EN 12390‑1 / EN 12390‑2 - specimen dimensions, making and curing
• EN 12504‑1 - cored specimens

Keywords: EN 12390-16:2019, shrinkage of concrete, testing hardened concrete, drying shrinkage, autogenous shrinkage, length change measurement, gauge studs, drying room, concrete specimens, CEN.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2019
Preskušanje strjenega betona - 16. del: Določanje krčenja betona
Testing hardened concrete - Part 16: Determination of the shrinkage of concrete
Prüfung von Festbeton - Teil 16: Bestimmung des Schwindens von Beton
Essais pour béton durci - Partie 16 : Détermination du retrait du béton
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 12390-16:2019
ICS:
91.100.30 Beton in betonski izdelki Concrete and concrete
products
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 12390-16
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2019
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 91.100.30
English Version
Testing hardened concrete - Part 16: Determination of the
shrinkage of concrete
Essais pour béton durci - Partie 16 : Détermination du Prüfung von Festbeton - Teil 16: Bestimmung des
retrait du béton Schwindens von Beton
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 19 August 2019.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2019 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 12390-16:2019 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Principle . 6
5 Apparatus . 7
6 Test specimens . 9
7 Procedure. 9
8 Calculation and expression of results . 10
9 Test report . 10
10 Precision . 11
Annex A (normative) Simplified procedure for the determination of autogenous shrinkage . 12
Bibliography . 13
European foreword
This document (EN 12390-16:2019) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 104 “Concrete
and related products”, the secretariat of which is held by SN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2020, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 2020.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document is based on ISO 1920-8.
This standard is one of a series on testing concrete.
EN 12390, Testing hardened concrete, consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Shape, dimensions and other requirements of specimens and moulds;
— Part 2: Making and curing specimens for strength tests;
— Part 3: Compressive strength of test specimens;
— Part 4: Compressive strength – Specification for testing machines;
— Part 5: Flexural strength of test specimens;
— Part 6: Tensile splitting strength of test specimens;
— Part 7: Density of hardened concrete;
— Part 8: Depth of penetration of water under pressure;
— Part 10: Determination of the carbonation resistance of concrete at atmospheric levels of carbon
dioxide;
— Part 11: Determination of the chloride resistance of concrete, unidirectional diffusion;
— Part 12: Determination of the potential carbonation resistance of concrete: Accelerated carbonation
method (in preparation);
— Part 13: Determination of secant modulus of elasticity in compression;
— Part 14: Semi-adiabatic method for the determination of heat released by concrete during its
hardening process;
— Part 15: Adiabatic method for the determination of heat released by concrete during its hardening
process;
— Part 16: Determination of the shrinkage of concrete;
— Part 17: Determination of creep of concrete in compression.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document specifies the procedure for the determination of total shrinkage of concrete specimens
in drying conditions.
NOTE 1 Possible shrinkage or length changes occurring before 24 h of age, and which could have significant
amplitude and/or consequences, in case of restraint, could need to be measured according to a complementary
procedure not covered by this document.
NOTE 2 Information on a simplified procedure for the determination of autogenous shrinkage is given in
Annex A.
The test is suitable for specimens having a declared value of D of the coarsest fraction of aggregates
actually used in the concrete (D ) not greater than 32 mm.
max
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 12350-1, Testing fresh concrete - Part 1: Sampling and common apparatus
EN 12390-1, Testing hardened concrete - Part 1: Shape, dimensions and other requirements for specimens
and moulds
EN 12390-2, Testing hardened concrete - Part 2: Making and curing specimens for strength tests
EN 12504-1, Testing concrete in structures - Part 1: Cored specimens - Taking, examining and testing in
compression
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
total shrinkage
relative change of length in defined conditions of temperature and relative humidity
3.2
autogenous shrinkage
relative change of length occurring in isothermal conditions and in the absence of moisture exchange
between the specimen and the surrounding environment
3.3
drying shrinkage
difference between total shrinkage and autogenous shrinkage
3.4
gauge length
L
base length
length used as reference for strain measurement
Note 1 to entry: Gauge length may be along the principal axis, along a straight line laying on the lateral surface
of the specimen and parallel to the principal axis or between two planes (see Figure 1).
3.5
measurement points
positions along the principal axis (see Figure 1 a)), along a straight line laying on the lateral surface of
the specimen and parallel to the principal axis (see Figure 1 b)) or in two planes (see Figure 1 c))

c) measurement
a) measurement points b) measurement points in a line
points in two planes
along the principal axis parallel to the principal axis
Key
L Gauge length
Figure 1 — Measurement points
4 Principle
Test specimens are subject to changes in length in defined conditions of temperature and relative
humidity.
If autogenous shrinkage is to be determined by the simplified procedure, which is needed for the
calculation of drying shrinkage, additional specimens are required which are sealed in a protective
envelope when moulded or immediately after stripping from the mould (see Annex A).
5 Apparatus
5.1 Drying room or cabinet
A drying room or cabinet with suitably controlled temperature and humidity shall be used for storing
specimens in air.
The drying room or cabinet shall meet the following requirements.
a) Air shall be circulated through the room or cabinet so that the same specified conditions are
attained adjacent to all specimens under test.
The air velocity should not exceed 0,5 m/s near the specimens.
b) The temperature in the room or cabinet shall be maintained at (20 ± 2) °C.
c) The relative humidity in the room or cabinet shall have a target value of between 50 % and 70 %
and maintained within ± 5 % of the target value. Other values may be used if allowed by national
provisions valid in the place of use.
d) The temperature and relative humidity of the room or cabinet shall be monitored throughout the
duration of the test and recorded at intervals not exceeding 24 h.
Separate provisions may be required in the case of manual recording of data during laboratory
closure periods.
The drying room or cabinet shall be fitted with suitable racks for storing specimens. The racks shall
permit free circulation of air around specimens, except for necessary supports, and shall be so situated
with
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