Effect of Temperature-Match-Curing on Freeze-Thaw and Scaling Resistance of High-Strength Concrete

Abstract

As a part of a comprehensive study to evaluate the effects of elevated curing temperatures on hardened concrete properties, four non-air-entrained high-strength concrete (HSC) mixtures were prepared at temperatures ranging from 10 to 35°C. After mixing, 5.5 liters of concrete were placed inside a large polystyrene block to simulate temperature development in HSC structural members. The concrete temperature inside the block was continuously monitored with thermocouples, and collected temperature information was used to simultaneously temperature-match-cure (TMC) a series of compressive strength, scaling, and freeze-thaw specimens. The maximum recorded temperatures ranged from 59 to 69°C, depending on the fresh concrete temperature. Control specimens from each of the four mixtures were cured at room temperature. Based on the amount of residue collected during scaling tests in the presence of 3% NaCl solution, the TMC specimens were 7–63 times less resistant than the control specimens. However, during the freezing and thawing tests, seven of the eight TMC specimens outperformed their respective control specimens.

Effect of the curing conditions of concrete on the behaviour under freeze-thaw cycles*

“…This procedure has been found to be detrimental to the scaling resistance of the concrete. However, some authors 16–18 have found an improvement of the scaling resistance of the high‐strength concrete when passing from 20 to 60 °C at early ages of the concrete.…”

“…[10][11][12][13][14][15] This procedure has been found to be detrimental to the scaling resistance of the concrete. However, some authors [16][17][18] have found an improvement of the scaling resistance of the high-strength concrete when passing from 20 to 60 • C at early ages of the concrete. The objective of this paper is to study the influence of the curing conditions of the concrete when it is cast under summer conditions (high temperature and low humidity) in the internal deterioration and scaling resistance under freeze-thaw cycles (winter conditions).…”

Monitoring of the strength gain of concrete using embedded PZT impedance transducer

“…Lin et al carry out a test of a pre-stressed concrete (PC) beam for hardening process monitoring purpose using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors [2]. Jonsson and Olek used thermocouples to continuously monitor the curing temperature of the concrete, and evaluated the effects of elevated curing temperatures on hardened concrete properties [3]. Saafi and Romine developed a new technique to monitor concrete setting and hardening, which consisted of embedding MicroElectro-Mechanical System (MEMS) devices into concrete during construction [4].…”

Nondestructive Concrete Strength Estimation based on Electro-Mechanical Impedance with Artificial Neural Network

“…The properties of ultrasonic vibration or wave propagation, such as velocity or attenuation, are affected by the change of physical properties. Thus, the strength development can be monitored, by tracking the change of ultrasonic signals (Gu et al 2006;Jonsson and Olek 2004;Oh et al 2016;Shin et al 2008;Kim et al 2013Kim et al , 2015Tawie et al 2010). Furthermore, a range of methods based on the acoustical, electrical, magnetic, optical, radiographic, and other mechanical properties of concrete have been studied (ACI Committee 228 2003;Lamond and Pielert 2006).…”