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, P. Vosoughi
Department of Civil and Environment Engineering, Concrete Technology and Durability Research Center, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
h i g h l i g h t s
Effects of 36 steam curing regimes on the compressive strength of SCC were studied.
Permeability of steam-cured concrete was investigated.
An optimum steam curing cycle was introduced.
a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history:
Received 25 July 2013
Received in revised form 20 August 2013
Accepted 27 August 2013
Available online 27 September 2013
Keywords:
Steam curing
Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC)
Compressive strength
Surface resistivity
Capillary absorption
Energy consumption
a b s t r a c t
Use of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) in pre-cast concrete plants is growing rapidly due to its benets
such as reduction in labor and equipment costs, increasing productivity, providing exibility in lling
highly reinforced sections and complex formworks, lowering the noise on job site and having superior
surface quality. Also, considering the critical importance of production time in precast plants, acceler-
ated curing is considered as an inevitable part of precast concrete elements production.
In this study the effects of thirty-six different steam-curing regimes on the compressive strength and
permeability of a self-compacting concrete mixture, used in precast concrete elements of Sadr elevated
highway was investigated. Compressive strength measurements indicated that in a constant total time,
increase in precuring period leads to lower immediate compressive strength. On the other hand, increase
in treatment temperature and total cycle time (which means higher energy and time consumption) led to
higher immediate compressive strength. Furthermore, durability tests results demonstrated that applica-
tion of cycles with maximum temperature of 70 C imposes negative effect on durability properties of ref-
erence SCC, such as surface resistivity and capillary absorption. Finally, on the basis of three criteria
(compressive strength, permeability and energy consumption by steam curing cycle), an optimum steam
curing cycle was introduced and utilized in the precast concrete plant.
2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC) has some advantages over
conventional concrete making it suitable for use in pre-cast/pre-
stressed concrete plants. These advantages include high workabil-
ity (making it possible to omit vibration), reduction of labor costs,
making feasible to develop more automated plants, and often pos-
sessing higher strength and durability properties. Three essential
characteristics of fresh SCC are lling ability, passing ability, and
segregation resistance which make it an ideal choice for use in ele-
ments with dense reinforcement or complex geometry [14].
There are some reasons such as limitation of formworks, facili-
ties, storage area, and time which encourage precast concrete
plants to obtain high early strength, to speed up the stripping of
forms, and to shorten the curing period [5]. Special techniques
are available to this aim including: (I) Using special cements with
high early strength such as ne or high alumina ones (II) Utilizing
suitable chemical additives (III) Use of accelerated curing (includ-
ing increased temperature and humidity).
According to economy, availability, and long-term performance
of special materials, the most common method is accelerated cur-
ing by means of increased temperature and humidity. Various
methods have been used including steam curing at atmospheric
pressure (temperature less than 100 C), steam curing at high pres-
sure (autoclaving), electrical heating of reinforcement, imposing
electrical current to concrete directly, and microwave heating.
Among these, steam curing at low pressure is most common, espe-
cially for large precast units. A typical steam-curing cycle consists
of a precuring (delay) period after surface nishing, a heating and
cooling rate of 1144 C/h, and a treatment period with constant
temperature for 618 h. Maximum treatment temperature in
0950-0618/$ - see front matter 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.08.040