Time evolutions of non-aging viscoelastic Poisson's ratio of concrete and implications for creep of C-S-H

The viscoelastic Poisson's ratio of concrete is an essential parameter to study creep and loss of prestress in biaxially prestressed structures. Here we first aim to scrutinize the various existing definitions of this ratio. We then analyze all creep data of concrete available in literature that make it possible to compute the evolutions of this viscoelastic Poisson's ratio, which, for mature concrete, is found to remain roughly constant or slightly decrease over time, such as to reach a long-term value always comprised between 0.15 and 0.2. Then, the long-term viscoelastic Poisson's ratio of concrete is downscaled to the level of calcium silicate hydrates (noted C-S-H) with micromechanics. The long-term viscoelastic Poisson's ratio of the C-S-H gel is found to range between 0 and 0.2. Finally, the identification of this range is used to discuss various potential creep mechanisms at the level of the C-S-H particles.