If the fresh concrete in a newly added slab bleeds during placement and connects to an existing slab, which surface result is expected?

• A. The surface will become rough and irregular
• B. The surface will develop cracks
• C. The surface will show a uniform sheen
• D. The surface will absorb water rapidly

Answer: (B)

Bleeding brings water to the surface of fresh concrete, and when a newly poured slab is tied to an existing slab, the new concrete is restrained from shrinking freely by the old one. This restraint, combined with a weak, laitance-rich surface layer formed by the bleed water, creates tensile stresses at the surface as curing progresses. Those stresses exceed the early-strength capacity of the surface, leading to cracks along or near the joint. So cracking is the expected surface result.

The other options don’t describe this common outcome. A rough or irregular surface can happen with finishing timing or surface laitance, but the key issue here is the restrained shrinkage causing cracks. A uniform sheen would imply a well-finished, even surface, which is unlikely when bleeding and laitance are present. Rapid water absorption isn’t the primary surface defect caused by bleeding in this restrained-connection scenario.