Effect of Curing Conditions on the Compressive Strength of Self Compacting Concrete Incorporating Slag and Steel Fibres

Abstract

The influence of different curing conditions on the compressive strength of Self compacting concrete in combination of Slag and Manufactured sand (MSand) is only little known, especially when subjected to steam accelerated curing process.Water immersion curing, Sealed curing, Curing compounds, Air Curing, Curing at site conditions and curing with steam were considered for the present study on the compressive strength of Self compacting concrete (SCC).The specimens were tested for 3,7,28&90 days. Out of the various curing methods, the highest compressive strength achieved is for Water immersion curing followed by Sealed curing (95%), curing compounds (93%), curing at site conditions (89%) and air curing (75%).Curing using steam was introduced to optimize the steam curing cycle for SCC. 36 different steam curing cycles were considered with varying temperatures of 50, 60 and 700C.The treatment period considered for the study were 8, 10, 12 &14 hours. From the experimental investigation, it is observed that increase in temperature and total cycle time led to higher immediate compressive strength. Out of the 36 curing cycles, the optimum cycle is having a temperature of 600c, delay period of 5 hours and a treatment period of 12 hrs.