Study on Replacement of Fine Aggregate with Light Weighted Super Absorbent Material in Internal Curing Concrete

Abstract

The process by which concrete gradually acquires hardened qualities because of cement's continuous hydration in the presence of enough heat and water is known as "curing." In order to preserve concrete and get the desired results for concrete structures—that is, sufficient concrete strength, durability, and dimensional stability curing becomes necessary. Water is becoming a more scarce resource by the day, so research into ways to save water when creating concrete and building is desperately needed. In order for concrete to acquire the desired qualities in its early phases, it must be cured, or kept at a suitable moisture content. Good curing, however, is frequently impractical. Concrete's microstructure and pore structure are developed by curing, which enhances the material's performance and longevity. Although they cause a decrease in the strength of the concrete, lightweight particles can enable internal curing (IC) in concrete and lessen autogenously shrinkage and accompanying cracking. In order to determine the impact of internal curing using recycled materials, an experiment was carried out. Sawdust (SD), granite fines (GF), and powdered recycled clay (PRC) was used in part place of conventional fine aggregates.