In concrete structures exposed to the ambient air at early ages, the moisture content in concrete decreases due to moisture diffusion. In addition, self-desiccation due to hydration of cement causes the additional decrease of moisture content in concrete at early ages. In this study, the internal relative humidity in drying concrete specimen was measured early ages, and the variation of relative humidity due to self-desiccation in sealed specimen was also measured. The moisture distribution in low-strength concrete was mostly influenced by moisture diffusion due to drying rather than self-desiccation. In high-strength concrete, however, self-desiccation has a considerable influence on moisture distribution of cross-section. The analytical results obtained by moisture diffusion theory were in good agreements with experimental results at early ages.
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