Effect of curing methods in hot weather on the properties of high-strength concretes

Abstract

The properties of high-strength concrete (HSC)are significantly influenced by environmental conditions and the duration of the curing method. This paper presents an experimental study that investigated the influence of three types of curing methods during hot weather on the properties of hardened HSC reinforced with 0.0% or 0.22% (by volume fraction)polypropylene fibers (PFs). HSC samples were cured via water immersion under indoor laboratory conditions; wet-coverage with a wet gunny under outdoor conditions; and spraying with water twice day for one week under outdoor conditions. The concrete mixture was designed to achieve compressive strength beyond 60 MPa after 28 days of curing via water immersion. Various tests were conducted to determine HSC properties, including slump, compressive, indirect tensile and flexural strengths. Cubes, cylinders, and prisms were cast with each concrete mixture to measure strength at 7, 14, 28, and 90 days of curing. Compressive strength under all curing conditions with and without PF reinforcement exceeded 60 MPa at 28 days. PF-reinforced concrete cured via water immersion exhibited the best concrete strength.