PROJECT REPORT-1

TITLE: SELF CURING CONCRETE ID: H20181430040H

INTRODUCTION:
In order to achieve the designated self-curing concrete properties ,water evaporation at the
surface should be avoided in addition to supplying water from the exterior. If enough water is at
the disposal of the cement paste for hydration to proceed, the concrete will achieve excellent
properties. The tradition always of curing often fail in practice. Even when meticulously
performed only water evaporation can be reduced, but the water supply on the surface of vertical
structural elements is still a technical problem. The time allocated for curing is a stagnation of
building time increasing costs and efforts. The efficiency of modern technology such as climb
and slip forming is perturbed and the risk of damage caused by the improper curing is still not
eliminated. In the case of high strength concrete(HSC) used commonly for vertical structural
elements the problem is more difficult. Due to a very low water cement ratio in combination with
high cement content and the addition of silica fume the concrete shows high compressive
strength at early age, which makes an early form stripping possible. The high self-desiccation
was the reason for using this concrete for self-desiccation slabs . The very dense structure of
high-performance concrete might lead to the assumption that water evaporation is low and
therefore water from the surrounding can penetrate only very slowly and not in a sufficient
amount to reach the interior of the member. So, the effect of curing can therefore be neglected.
Saving the curing time would positively influence the construction costs. On the other hand
when exposed to air, water evaporation was observed resulting in a considerable reduction of the
compressive strength and micro cracks appear . Many researches showed failure of the
traditional curing methods for HSC. Wet curing for a longer time even submersing in water did
not always positively influence the mechanical properties. Hence, the opinions in the literature
about curing high strength concrete are contradictory. Self-curing or internal curing is a
technique that can be used to provide additional moisture in concrete for more effective
hydration of cement and reduced self-desiccation. Currently, there are two major methods
available for internal curing. The first method uses saturated lightweight aggregate in order to
supply an internal source of water and the second one uses polyethylene-glycol which reduces
water evaporation from the surface of concrete and also helps in water retention
 PROJECT REPORT-1
ABSTRACT:
Internal curing of concrete by the use of pre-saturated lightweight aggregates or polyethylene-
glycol is well established method of counteracting self-desiccation and autogenous shrinkage.
This study was carried out to compare among concretes without or with silica fume (SF) along
with chemical type of shrinkage reducing admixture, polyethylene-glycol (Ch), and leca as self-
curing agents for water retention even at elevated temperature (50 _C) and their durability. The
cement content of 400 kg/m3, silica fume of 15% by weight of cement, polyethylene-glycol of
2% by weight of cement, pre-saturated lightweight aggregate (leca) 15% by volume of sand and
water with Ch/ binder ratio of 0.4 were selected in this study. Some of the physical and
mechanical properties were determined periodically up to 28 days in case of exposure to air
curing in temperature of (25 _C) and (50 _C) while up to 6 months of exposure to 5% of carbon
dioxide and wet/dry cycles in 8% of sodium chloride for durability study. The concrete mass loss
and the volumetric water absorption were measured, to evaluate the water retention of the
investigated concretes. Silica fume concrete either without or with Ch gave the best results under
all curing regimes; significant water retention and good durability properties.

Why internal curing?

During cement hydration empty pores are created in the mix due to the chemical shrinkage,
reduction in internal relative humidity (RH) within the cement paste is seen. Self-desiccation
and lack of availability of moisture within hydrating cement cause formation of capillary pores
and micro cracks [10-15]; these micro cracks are the weak planes within the matrix. IC supplies
the extra curing water throughout the concrete mix thus maintaining the RH and avoiding Self-
desiccation and reducing autogenous shrinkage. IC also works well with supplementary
cementitious materials (SCM), especially at higher dosage levels, due to increased water
demand for their reaction in later age.
 PROJECT REPORT-1
Self curing agents:

1.POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL: PEG, PEO, and POE refer to an oligomer or polymer

of ethylene oxide. The three names are chemically synonymous, but historically PEG is
preferred in the biomedical field, whereas PEO is more prevalent in the field of polymer
chemistry. Because different applications require different polymer chain lengths, PEG has
tended to refer to oligomers and polymers with a molecular mass below 20,000 g/mol, PEO to
polymers with a molecular mass above 20,000 g/mol, and POE to a polymer of any molecular
mass.PEGs are prepared by polymerization of ethylene oxide and are commercially available
over a wide range of molecular weights from 300 g/mol to 10,000,000 g/mol.

. 2. PREOAKED LIGHTWEIGHT AGGREGATES: Aggregates which are soaked in

water for 10 hours before using for making concrete are called presoaked aggregates

objective :
1.To obtain mix design of self curing concrete and evaluate mechanical properties

methodology:

• 1.collection of literature reviews and drawing valid conclusions

• 2.study of mechanism of self curing agents
• And appropriate selfcuring agent to be suggested
• 3.arriving the proper mix design of selfcuring concrete and evaluate mechanical
properties
PROJECT REPORT-1