Thermal and crack behavior of reinforced high‐performance concrete edge‐restrained wall

This study experimentally investigates the early-age behavior of edge-restrained concrete walls constructed with normal-strength (NSC) and high-performance concrete (HPC) under realistic outdoor conditions. The research quantifies temperature variations, strain development, and cracking potential, focusing on the influence of length-to-height (L/H) ratios and reinforcement details. Key findings reveal that while HPC exhibited over twice the tensile strength of NSC, micro-cracking at the aggregate-mortar interface was prevalent in all walls, precluding macro-crack formation during the observation period. Increasing the L/H ratio led to a significant increase in peak shrinkage strains, with HPC walls showing up to 9.1% higher values in longer walls. These results underscore the critical importance of considering the interplay between concrete mix design (particularly tensile strength), structural geometry (L/H ratio), and environmental factors to optimize the durability and minimize early-age cracking risks in restrained concrete structures.