The intial defects induced at early age of concrete hardening: thermal strains, shrinkage, creep and the associated risks of cracking are one of the governing factors for long-term performance of concrete. Proposing a simplified but integrated scenario of concrete life cycle simulation method, this book examines and explains the vast amount of experimental observations related to hardening concrete using a common set of physical laws. The methods used focus on the three primary processes common to the development of all cementitious materials: hydration, moisture transport and structure...