Title: Effects of Early Age Curing on Durability-Related Properties of Concrete

Author(s): E. Agbasi and N. R. Buenfeld

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 212

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 489-508

Keywords: curing; drying; mercury intrusion porosimetry; microstructure; oxygen permeability; portland cement concrete; scanning electron microscopy; transport properties

DOI: 10.14359/12704

Date: 6/1/2003

Abstract:
Most previous investigations of the influence of curing on the durability-related properties of concrete are confused by the influence of factors associated with the assessment procedure or type of test specimen. This paper presents an experimental investigation in which every attempt was made to eliminate factors that would otherwise mask the real influence of curing. The transport based testing regime developed allowed cover thickness specimens to he tested sequentially for sorptivity, vapour diffusion and gas permeability. Mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the effects of curing on microstructure. In spite of the inherent variability associated with transport tests, the testing regime was effective in discriminating between the short-term effects of the different curing regimes on concrete transport properties. Generally, the effect of w/c was more important than the effect of curing.