ADVANCED CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

TERM PAPER REPORT

ON
CURING
BY:
SANGEETHAM
06DAOO7
DEPARTMENT OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
KARUNYA UNIVERSITY
KARUNYA NAGAR, COIMBATORE 641 114.
CONTENTS.
1.INTRODUCTION.

2.CURING CONCRETE.
2.1WHAT IS CURING.
3. IMPORTANCE OF CURING.

4. CURING METHODS.
4.1 WATER CURING.

4.2 MEMBRANE CURING.
4.3 APPLICATION OF HEAT.
4.3.1 STEAM CURING AT ORDINARY PRESSURE.
4.3.2 HIGH PRESSURE STEAM CURING.
4.3.3 CURING BY INFRA-RED RADIATION.
4.3.4 ELECTRICAL CURING.
4.5 MISCELLANEOUS METHODS OF CURING.

5. CURING COMPOUNDS.
2
6. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH.
7. CODAL PROVISIONS.
8. REFERENCES.


1.INTRODUCTION
Companies and people who place concrete are often focused on organizing and planning,
forming, placing, and finishing. Curing doesn't get the same consideration--especially on
residential applications. But curing plays an important role in terms of the ultimate strength,
durability, abrasion resistance, volume stability, permeability to water, and resistance to freezing,
thawing, and de-icing concrete .Good curing delays shrinage and in the case of wet curing can
delay shrinage until after curing is complete.Generally speaing, concrete produced with a low
water-cement ratio is stronger, more durable concrete. But mi!es with water-cement ratios lower
than ".#", especially high performance concrete $%&C' mi!es, don't have enough water to
properly hydrate the cement. (i!es with water-cement ratios of ".#" and above have enough
water to promote good curing if the water can be retained in the slab during the curing cycle.
2.CURING CONCRETE
2.1WHAT IS CURING
Curing is the maintenance of a satisfactory moisture content and temperature in concrete to
achieve the desired strength and hardness. )rying removes water needed for hydration. *ithout
ade+uate water and insufficient hydration, concrete tends to be wea. ,emperature is an important
parameter in proper curing. -n outdoor concreting temperature, humidity and wind velocity
contribute to evaporation, that is, loss of water. &revention of loss of moisture from concrete is
.
important not only from the point of view of strength development but also to prevent plastic
shrinage, decrease permeability and improve resistance to abrasion.
,he loss in the 2/-day strength seems to be directly related to loss of moisture during the first
three days. 0ive per cent loss in moisture in the first three days leads to nearly 12 per cent loss in
strength of concrete.
2.2WHEN TO START CURING
,he curing should start early and should be continued till needed. ,he period of curing to be
adopted will depend on a number of factors such as severity of temperature, drying condition,
humidity and prevailing wind conditions. -n case of concrete made with ordinary cement, it
should be ept wet for at least seven days from the date of placing concrete under normal weather
conditions. ,his should be increased to 3" days in dry and hot weather conditions. *hen concrete
is made either with mineral admi!tures or blended cements, curing period should be e!tended to
3# days. Curing should be continuous. 4vaporation of water on the surface of concrete depends
on5
6elative humidity of surrounding air
,emperature
7elocity of wind
-n this method, e!posed surface of concrete is ept continuously in a damp or wet condition by
covering it with sacs, canvas, %essian or similar water-absorbent materials and ept constantly
wet for the periods mentioned above. -t is important to note that the absorbent material used
should not be allowed to dry. ,he drying of these materials can be further prevented by covering
it with another layer of plastic sheet. ,he purpose of moist curing is to prevent evaporation of the
water added originally to fresh concrete and preserve it for the purpose of hydration. ,he +uality
of curing water used should be as good as mi!ing water. 7ertical surfaces such as walls and
columns lose curing water fast and hence it is preferable to retain the formwor longer or use
very fre+uent wetting. (oist curing prevents loss of moisture from concrete, as well as maintains
a satisfactory temperature regime. ,he curing regime prevents the development of high
temperature gradients within the concrete.
3.IMPORTANCE OF CURING
#
-ncreased strength gain
-ncreased abrasion resistance on the surface
8ess permeable concrete with increased resistance to chloride penetration and
freeze9thaw damage
-ncreased resistance to early cracing--slabs gain strength before drying out and have
more resistance to shrinage forces
-f wet curing is specified for a floor, water must be prevented from moving through control :oints
to the subbase and increasing curling problems. &eriodically moistening burlap and covering it
with polyethylene is perhaps the best way to do this. -t should also be noted that water, or the
materials used for curing, can discolor finished surfaces.
4.CURING METHODS.
*ater curing .
(embrane curing.
;pplication of heat.
(iscellaneous.
4.1WATER CURING.
,he best method of curing as it satisfies all the re+uirements of curing ie,
&romotion of hydration.
4limination of shrinage.
;bsorption of the heat of hydration.
*ater curing can be done by the following methods.
Immers!"# &recast concrete items are normally immmersed in curing tans for
a period of 1 days to 2/ days
2
P!"$"%# &avement slabs,roof slabs etc are covered under water by maing
small ponds.
S&r'("% !r &!"$"%# 7ertical retaining wall, plastered surface of concrete
columns etc are curied by spraying water.
We) *!+er"%# %orizontal surface are taen into account for this type of curing.
4.2MEM,RANE CURING
*here there is water scarcity curing compounds may be used. Curing compound should be
applied to all the e!posed surfaces without e!ception. ;ll moisture from concrete may be lost if
partial covering is done through the holydays $openings' left. (embrane curing is a more silful
operation than conventional moist curing. -mpermeable membranes such as plastic sheeting
covering closely the concrete surface can also be used to provide an effective barrier against
evaporation.
(embrane curing does not control temperature regime. ,he prevention of loss of moisture from
concrete at early ages is particularly important in modern high strength concrete where water
cement ratio is low. ,he 2.-grade cement used nowadays has a high rate of strength. ,he rate of
strength development at the early ages of concrete made with super plasticizers is significantly
large. -n these circumstances curing regime becomes utmost important. -n such cases, curing
should start early without allowing the concrete to dry. ,he rate of strength development at early
ages of concrete made with super-sulphated cement is significantly reduced at low temperatures.
<uper-sulphated cement concrete is seriously affected by improper curing. 0or concrete
containing &ortland pozzolana cement, &ortland slag cement or mineral admi!tures lie fly-ash
curing period should be increased.
4.3APPLICATION OF HEAT
*hen concrete is sub:ected to higher temperatures it accelerators the hydration process resulting
in faster development of strength. Concrete cannot be sub:ected to dry heat to accelerate the
hydration process as the presence of moisture is also essential re+uisite. <ub:ecting the concrete
to higher temperature , and maintaining the re+uired wetness can be achieved by sub:ecting the
concrete to steam curing.
=
<ome of the advantages are mentioned below.
Concrete is vulnerable to damage only for short time.
Concrete member can be handled very +uicly.
8ess space will be sufficient in the casting yard.
; small curing tan will be sufficient.
; higher outturn is possible for a given capital outlay.
,he wor can be put on to service at a much early time.
,he e!posure of concrete to higher can be done by the following methods.
<team curing at ordinary pressure
<team curing at high pressure
Curing by -nfra-red readiation
4lectrical curing
4.3.1STEAM CURING AT ORDINARY PRESSURE.
,his method is applied mostly on prefabricated elements stored in a chamber.,he chamber should
be big enough to hold a days production.,he door is closed and steam is applied. ,he steam is
applied either continuosly or intermittently.;n accelerated strength of normal concrete in about .
days.
-t is interesting to note that concrete sub:ected to higher temperature at the early period of
hydration is found to loose some of the strength gained at a later age.<uch concrete is said to
undergo retrogation strength.
Concrete sub:ected to steam curing e!hibits a slightly higher drying shrinage and moisture
movement.<ub:ecting the concrete to higher temperature may also slightly effect the aggregate
+uality in case of some artificial aggregate.<team curing of concrete made with rapid hardening
cement will generate a much higher heat of hydration.<imilarly. richer mi!es may have more
adverse effect than that of lean mi!es.
1
8arge number of bridges are being built for insfrastructure development in -ndia.,he
re+uirements for casting innumerable precast prestressed girders.,hese girders are steam cured
for faster development of strength which has many advantages.
;n initial delay prior to steaming.
; period for retaining the temperature.
; period for increasing the temperature.
; period for decreasing the temperature.
4.3.2HIGH PRESSURE STEAM CURING
Curing is carried out in a closed chamber.,he steam will be converted into water naming it
hot water curing.,his is done in an open atmosphere.
,he super heated steam at high pressure and high temperature is applied on the concrete.,his
process is also called >A-)!*.'+"%/.
<ome of the advantages of this process are
%igh pressure steam cured concrete develops in one day, or less the strength
as much as the 2/

days strength of normally cured concrete.,he strength
developed does not show retrogession.
%igh pressure steam cured concrete e!hibits higher resistance to sulphate
attac,freezing and thawing action and chemical action.-t also shows less
efflorescence.
%igh pressure steam cured concrete e!hibits lower drying shrinage, and
moisture movement.
4.3.3CURING ,Y INFRA0RED RADIATION
Curing of concrete by this method is adopted in very cold climatic regions in 6ussia.-t is
clamaimed that much more rapid gain of strength as in the case of steam curing at ordinary
pressure. ,he sysstem is very ofthen adopted for the curing of hollow concrete products.,he
normal operative temperature is ept at ?"@C.
/
4.3.4ELECTRICAL CURING
;pplicable mostly to very cold climatic regions is the use of electricity.
Concrete can be cured electrically by passing an alternating current through the concrete
itself between two electrodes either buried in or applied to the surface of the concrete.
4.1 MISCELLANEOUS METHODS OF CURING.
Calcium chloride is used either as a surface coating or as an admi!ture.
Calcium Chloride being a salt, shows affinity for moisture by abcorbing the moisture
from the atmosphere but also retains it at the surface.
&revents the mi!ing water from evaporation and thereby eeps the concrete wet for a
long time to promote hydration.
1. CURING COMPOUNDS.
8i+uid membrane forming curing compounds are used to retard the loss of water from
concrete during the early period of setting and hardening.
Curing compounds are made of the following bases.
1. <ynthetic resin.
2. *a!.
3. ;crylic.
4. Chlorinated rubber.
6esin and *a! based curing compounds seals the concrete surface effectively and with time
their efficiency will get reduced and at 2/ days they get disintegrated and peels off.
;crylic based membrane forming curing compound has the additional advantage of having
better adhesion of subse+uent plaster.,he membrane does not get crumbled down or it need
not be washed with hot water.
?
Chlorinated rubber curing compounds not only form a thin film that protects the concrete
from drying out but also fills the minute pores in the surfaces of concrete.
2.COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Compressive strength of 2/ days moist-cured concrete.
3"

3. CODAL PROVISIONS.
IS 412# 2444 C.# 13.1 P'%e 23
IS 412# 2444 C.# 13.1.1 P'%e 23
IS 412# 2444 C.# 13.1.2 P'%e 23
IS 412# 2444 C.# 13.1.3 P'%e 23
5. REFERENCES

33
1. (.<.<hetty - Concrete ,echnology ,heory and &ractice.
2. ;.(.Aeville, B.B.Broos C Concrete ,echnology.
3. ;.( Aeville C &roperties of Concrete.
4. Boe Aasvi Concrete Construction, )ec, 2""2
1. www.concrete.org.u.
2. www.ciria.org. u.
3. www.cabmphandboos.com

32