Answer to Question #309134 in Civil and Environmental Engineering for TobeHonest

Question

Discuss five different methods of concrete curing

Answer 1

Here are five different methods of concrete curing:

1. Membrane Curing

A membrane is formed on the concrete surface to avoid the evaporation of the moisture in the concrete.

Liquid form material is sprayed over the concrete surface and it solidifies and forms a membrane. These materials can apply with brushed or roller. There are two types of membranes;

i. Water-based

ii. Oil-based

The water-based curing membranes are more popular than the oil base as it can be washed off with water after the curing period, and additional effort is required to remove the oil-based membranes. Acid-etched, sandblasting or chipping is required to remove the oil base membranes.

2. Curing by Absorbing Heat – Pipe Water Cooling

Pipes are set inside the concrete to absorb the heat. Water is circulated in the concrete and it absorbs the heat of in the concrete.

Especially for thick concrete and when a higher grade of concrete is used for construction, this method is more suitable. It reduces the core temperature.

However, these methods shall be used with much care as the sudden change in the temperature could cause cracking in the concrete.

Continuous monitoring of the temperature of the water provides an idea about the internal temperature. Base on the observations, the flow rate can be adjusted.

3.Electrical Curing

There are three methods in electrical curing.

• Electrical current passes through the freshly laid concrete between two external fix electrodes. The alternate current shall be passed through the concrete.
• A high current having low voltage passing through the reinforcement net.
• Large electric blankets are utilized for the purpose of heating the slab surfaces.

4.Natural Curing

Concrete is allowed to cure naturally without covering anything.

In environments where the evaporation is very less and no high heat to harm the concrete, concrete can be allowed to cure naturally.

This could mainly be done for structural elements that do not have much importance. However, structurally important elements could not be cured using this method.

Higher the rate of the evaporation, the higher the risk of cracking of the concrete. Further, the variation of the surface temperature with the time causes cracking of the concrete.

5.Hot mixing Method

An increase in the temperature of the concrete is done to enhance the strength of the concrete.

Rising the temperature of the concrete up to 320C could enhance the strength by 10% – 20%.

Since the concrete gets the strength early, this method can use in a situation where it is required early strength. Further, the formwork can be removed early with the gain of the strength of early.

There are several methods that can be sued to increase the temperature of the concrete

• Increase the temperature of aggregate by heating
• Heat the water
• Inject steam into the concrete mix

In this method, special formwork shall be used and the formwork shall also be used. This method is not typically used and it can be used on special occasions.