Mitigating UHPC Autogenous Shrinkage Through Material Design: Mechanism Analysis and Optimization Strategies

Where architectural aesthetics meets structural stability in the application of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), autogenous shrinkage has become a key challenge restricting its ultimate performance in high-end scenarios such as grand theaters and landmark buildings. As an industry leader with 28 years of deep expertise in the UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials field, Qinglong Group leverages full-chain technical strength to solve this challenge at the source of material design, providing designers and owners with solutions that combine artistic expressiveness with engineering reliability.

Analysis of the UHPC Autogenous Shrinkage Mechanism: From Microstructure to Engineering Impact

UHPC has become an ideal choice for building envelopes thanks to its ultra-high strength and durability, but its autogenous shrinkage characteristic—volume shrinkage caused by water consumption during cement hydration in the hardening process—may cause component cracking, affecting decorative effects and structural safety. This problem is particularly prominent in complex scenarios such as long-span curtain walls and irregular-shaped components. Through 28 years of engineering practice, the Qinglong Group R&D Center has found that the essence of autogenous shrinkage lies in the migration and evaporation of pore water within cement-based materials, and that optimizing material composition and mix proportions is the core path to mitigating this problem.

Material Design Optimization Strategies: Qinglong's Innovative Practice in Full-Chain Technology

As a national high-tech enterprise, Qinglong Group deeply integrates material R&D with engineering applications, forming three major optimization strategies: first, incorporating nano-scale silica fume and ultra-fine mineral powder to optimize the microstructure of cement hydration products, reducing porosity and improving compactness; second, adopting fiber reinforcement technology by adding specific proportions of steel fibers or basalt fibers into UHPC, using the fiber bridging effect to suppress shrinkage cracks; finally, innovatively introducing internal curing technology, which uses pre-wetted lightweight aggregates to continuously supply moisture inside the concrete, delaying drying shrinkage during the hydration process. These technologies have been successfully applied in projects such as the Nanjing East Road Century Plaza renovation project, achieving zero-crack delivery of translucent concrete components.

Full Life-Cycle Assurance: Closed-Loop Service from Detailed Design to After-Sales Maintenance

Solving the UHPC autogenous shrinkage problem requires full-chain coordination. Qinglong Group is supported by an integrated service system covering “detailed design – manufacturing – construction and installation – after-sales maintenance”: in the design stage, BIM technology is used to simulate shrinkage stress distribution and optimize component jointing and reinforcement schemes; in production, steam curing and gradient cooling processes are adopted to control the early shrinkage rate; during construction, 3D scanning positioning and modular installation ensure on-site assembly precision; in the after-sales stage, a 24-hour response mechanism has been established, providing structural health monitoring services for up to 15 years. This full-cycle control capability has enabled Qinglong UHPC products to achieve long-term stability of complex curved components in projects such as the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center.

From molecular-level optimization of material formulations to millimeter-level control in engineering practice, Qinglong Group has redefined the application boundaries of UHPC with 28 years of professional accumulation. As a Vice President Unit of the China GRC Association and a formulator of multiple industry standards, Qinglong has always practiced its mission of “creating beautiful architecture,” transforming autogenous shrinkage—an industry-wide challenge—into product competitiveness through technological innovation, and creating, for designers worldwide, building envelope systems that combine artistic tension with structural safety. Looking ahead, Qinglong will continue to focus on technological breakthroughs in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, committed to becoming a world-leading enterprise in the manufacture of architectural decorative materials.