The lower water cement ratio in concrete causes  

Concept:

The lower water-cement ratio in concrete significantly impacts its properties:

Smaller Creep and Shrinkage: A lower water-cement ratio reduces the amount of capillary pores in the hardened cement paste, which leads to less creep and shrinkage as there's less excess water to evaporate and cause volume changes.

Improved Frost Resistance: Less water in the mixture means fewer and smaller capillary pores, reducing the risk of frost damage because there is less water available to freeze and expand within the concrete structure.

Greater Density and Lower Permeability: Reducing the water-cement ratio results in a denser and more homogeneous concrete mixture. This higher density reduces the permeability of the concrete, making it less susceptible to ingress of water and aggressive chemicals which can cause deterioration.