The change in the volume of drying concrete is not equal to the volume of water removed. The evaporation of free water causes little or no shrinkage. As concrete continues to dry, water evaporates and the volume of the restrained cement paste changes, causing concrete to shrink, probably due to the capillary tension that develops in the water remaining in concrete. Emptying of the capillaries causes a loss of water without shrinkage, but once the absorbed water is removed, shrinkage occurs.