The effect of casting and curing temperatures on the properties of concrete
[Thesis]
M. S. Ahmed
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia)
1996
187
M.S.
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia)
1996
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of casting and curing temperatures on the properties of plain and blended cement concretes. To achieve the objectives of this research more than 1300 concrete specimens were cast. The effect of casting and curing temperatures on the compressive strength, pulse velocity, and absorption were evaluated up to a period of 168 days. Furthermore, these tests were supplemented with pore size distribution, X-ray diffraction, and Differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis. The long-term properties of plain cement concrete specimens were not affected for casting temperatures of up to 50C, provided they are cured at 20C. The long-term properties of blast furnace slag cement concrete specimens cast at 20 and 35C and cured at 20, 35, and 50C were also not affected. Moreover, these concretes can be cast at higher temperatures of 50 and 65C, provided they are cured at 20C. The long-term properties were not affected in the silica fume cement concrete specimens cast and cured at 20C only. The long-term properties of fly ash cement concrete specimens cast at temperatures of up to 50C were not affected provided they are cured at 20C. The proportion of coarse pores increased with an increase in the casting temperatures in all the concrete specimens. However, temperature did not affect the pore size distribution in the blast furnace slag cements. This indicates that these cements can be beneficially utilized at higher casting temperatures. The orientation of the transition zone became less preferential with increasing casting temperature. The orientation of transition zone in the fly ash cement concrete specimens cast at 50C was highly preferential indicating that these cements can be utilized at higher casting temperatures provided they are cured at 20C.