In the early 80's, specific high-performance concretes were developed mainly to meet structural and durability requirements. To satisfy these requirements, it was necessary to densify the cementitious matrix by using low water-to-binder ratios, incorporating supplementary cementitious admixtures and using superplasticizer admixtures. However, the incorporation of these materials increase shrinkage at early ages and, consequently, the cracking potential and the potential durability. Since 1957, in order to solve this problem, internal curing was first proposed to mitigate shrinkage and, thus, to improve durability; but it was until the beginning of the present century that this technology called the attention of the scientific community to search for options that could be used as agents to incorporate internal curing in high performance concrete, including materials such as superabsorbent polymers, fibers, wood and manufactured lightweight aggregates.

In this regard, this project evaluates the effectiveness of lechuguilla natural fiber with a water absorption of 98% at 22 h, and a desorption rate of 14% per day, as an agent for the implementation of internal curing in high performance concrete, with a water/binder of 0.40 and a binary cementitious systems that combine Portland cement and fly ash or silica fume.

To evaluate the performance of internal curing, properties such as compressive strength, static modulus of elasticity, autogenous shrinkage, drying shrinkage, surface electrical resistivity and the non-steady chloride migration coefficient were determined and analyzed.

在80年代初，开发了特定的高性能混凝土，主要是为了满足结构和耐久性要求。为了满足这些要求，有必要通过使用低水灰比，掺入辅助水泥外加剂和使用高效减水剂来致密水泥基。然而，这些材料的掺入增加了早期的收缩率，因此增加了开裂的可能性和潜在的耐久性。自1957年以来，为了解决此问题，首先提出了内部固化以减轻收缩并因此提高耐久性。

在这方面，该项目评估了22个小时时吸水率为98％，日解吸率为14％的针茅天然纤维作为高性能混凝土内部固化剂的有效性。水/粘合剂为0.40，以及结合波特兰水泥和粉煤灰或硅粉的二元水泥体系。

为了评估内部固化的性能，确定并分析了诸如抗压强度，静态弹性模量，自生收缩，干燥收缩，表面电阻率和非稳态氯化物迁移系数等特性。