Curing Efficiency of Internally Cured Concrete—TechNote (ACI PRC-213.1-24)

International Concrete Abstracts Portal

The International Concrete Abstracts Portal is an ACI led collaboration with leading technical organizations from within the international concrete industry and offers the most comprehensive collection of published concrete abstracts.

  


Title: Curing Efficiency of Internally Cured Concrete—TechNote (ACI PRC-213.1-24)

Author(s):

Publication: Concrete International

Volume: 48

Issue: 8

Appears on pages(s): 37-41

Keywords: Internal curing, curing-affected zone, durability, FLWAs

DOI:

Date: 8/1/2026

Abstract:
This TechNote describes a process for determining equivalent curing durations for concrete made using conventional external curing and internal curing using prewetted FLWAs in ordinary portland cement (OPC) and SCM systems. A steel trowel was used to screed and finish the sample surface. In this process, equivalent performance is defined by the depth of the curing-affected zone (CAZ). However, the impact of the surface finishing method on the CAZ was not examined. The criteria presented offer one approach that can be used to determine the duration of external curing that is equivalent to internal curing. This would allow any benefits of using internally cured concrete on construction time to be quantified.

Related References:

ACI PRC-308-16—Guide to External Curing of Concrete

ACI PRC-(308-213)-13(22)—Report on Internally Cured Concrete Using Prewetted Absorptive Lightweight Aggregate

Barrett, T. J.; Miller, A. E.; and Weiss, W. J., 2015, “Documentation of the INDOT Experience and Construction of the Bridge Decks Containing Internal Curing in 2013,” Report No. FHWA/IN/JTRP-2015/10, Joint Transportation Research Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 108 pp.

Bentz, D. P., and Weiss, W. J., 2011, “Internal Curing: A 2010 State-of-the-Art Review,” National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 82 pp.

Bouchelil, L.; Ghantous, R.; Clark, G.; Goodwin, M. N.; Weiss, W. J.; and Khanzadeh Moradllo, M., 2022, “Quantifying Impact of Internally Cured Concrete on Duration of External Curing,” ACI Materials Journal, V. 119, No. 5, Sept., pp. 269-280.

Carpenter, D., 2019, “Safety and Serviceability: Internal Curing Concrete Bridge Decks in New York State,” ASPIRE, p. 48. http://aspirebridge.com/magazine/2019Summer/SafetyAndServiceability-InternalCuringConcreteBridgeDeck.pdf.

Cather, B., 1992, “How to Get Better Curing,” Concrete (London), V. 26, No. 5, pp. 22-25.

Guo, Y.; He, X.; Peeta, S.; Zheng, H.; Barrett, T.; Miller, A.; and Weiss, J. 2014, “Internal Curing as a New Tool for Infrastructural Renewal: Reducing Repair Congestion, Increasing Service Life, and Improving Sustainability,” Technical Research Report, NEXTRANS Project No. 082PY04, USDOT Region 5, Regional University Transportation Center, West Lafayette, IN, 42 pp.

Hajibabaee, A.; Khanzadeh Moradllo, M.; and Ley, M. T., 2018, “Comparison of Curing Compounds to Reduce Volume Change from Differential Drying in Concrete Pavement,” International Journal of Pavement Engineering, V. 19, No. 9, pp. 815-824. doi: 10.1080/10298436.2016.1210442

Huebschman, C. R.; Garcia, C.; Bullock, D. M.; and Abraham, D. M., 2003, “Construction Work Zone Safety,” Report No. FHWA/IN/JTRP-2002/34, Joint Transportation Research Program, Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 255 pp.

Jensen, O., and Hansen, P., 1995, “Autogenous Relative Humidity Change in Silica Fume-Modified Cement Paste,” Advances in Cement Research, V. 7, No. 25, pp. 33-38. doi: 10.1680/adcr.1995.7.25.33

Khanzadeh Moradllo, M.; Montanari, L.; Suraneni, P.; Reese, S. R.; and Weiss, W. J., 2018, “Examining Curing Efficiency Using Neutron Radiography,” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, V. 2672, No. 27, pp. 13-23. doi: 10.1177/0361198118773571

Kovler, K., and Jensen, O. M., eds., 2007, “Internal Curing of Concrete: State of the Art Report of RILEM Technical Committee 196-ICC,” RILEM Publications, Bagneux, France, 141 pp.

Meeks, K. W., and Carino, N. J., 1999, “Curing of High-Performance Concrete: Report of the State-of-the-Art,” National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, Gaithersburg, MD, 203 pp.

NYSDOT, 2017, “EI 17-013 – Revision to Standard Specifications Section 557 – High-Performance Internal Curing Concrete,” New York State Department of Transportation, Albany, NY, 4 pp.

Pour-Ghaz, M.; Castro, J.; Kladivko, E. J.; and Weiss, J., 2012, “Characterizing Lightweight Aggregate Desorption at High Relative Humidities using a Pressure Plate Apparatus,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, V. 24, No. 8, pp. 961-969. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000422

Powers, T. C.; Copeland, L. E.; and Mann, H. M., 1959, “Capillary Continuity or Discontinuity in Cement Pastes,” Portland Cement Association Research & Development Lab Bulletin, V. 1, No. 2, pp. 38-48.

Rao, C., and Darter, M. I., 2013, “Evaluation of Internally Cured Concrete for Paving Applications,” Applied Research Associates, Inc., Champaign, IL, 121 pp.

Roberts, J.; Butcher, R.; Jones, B.; Kalafat, M.; and Vaughn, R., 2012, “History and Evolution of Internal Curing—Case Studies,” The Economics, Performance, and Sustainability of Internally Cured Concrete, SP-290, A. K. Schindler, J. G. Grygar, and W. J. Weiss, eds., American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, pp. 1-12.

Roesler, J.; Zollinger, D.; and Weiss, W. J., 2014, “Innovative Structural and Material Design of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP),” Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Project.

Rupnow, T., 2015, “Lightweight Aggregate and Internally Cured Concrete (ICC) Prove their Value on Louisiana Bridge,” Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Baton Rouge, LA.

Taylor, P. C., 2013, Curing Concrete, CRC Press, London, UK, 215 pp.

Villani, C., 2014, “Transport Processes in Partially Saturated Concrete: Testing and Liquid Properties,” PhD thesis, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 191 pp.

Weiss, W. J., and Morian, D., 2017, “Review of Internally Cured Concrete as it Relates to Pavements,” Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 15 pp.