AASHTO T 363-17 (2021) PDF Download

The AASHTO T 363-17 (2021) standard provides a method for assessing the stress development and cracking potential in concrete when there are volume changes due to shrinkage and temperature variations, which are constrained. This test method is designed to compare the amount of restraint in the ring and is not meant to determine the exact timing of the initial cracking of concrete in a particular type of structure.

The purpose of this standard is to evaluate the potential for stress development and cracking in concrete due to restrained volume change. By subjecting the concrete to conditions of shrinkage and temperature changes, and observing the degree of restraint on the ring, the test allows for the comparison of different concrete mixtures or placement techniques in terms of their cracking potential.

It is important to note that this standard does not provide information on the actual time of initial cracking or the specific structural implications that may arise from this test. Instead, its primary focus is on assessing and comparing the stress development and cracking potential of concrete samples under the specified conditions of restrained volume change.