Development of High Strength Self Curing Concrete Using Super Absorbing Polymer

Concrete is an essential building material which is
widely used in construction industry all over the world due to its
compressible strength. Curing of concrete plays a vital role in
durability and other performance necessities. Improper curing can
affect the concrete performance and durability easily. When areas
like scarcity of water, structures is not accessible by humans external
curing cannot be performed, so we opt for internal curing. Internal
curing (or) self curing plays a major role in developing the concrete
pore structure and microstructure. The concept of internal curing is to
enhance the hydration process to maintain the temperature uniformly.
The evaporation of water in the concrete is reduced by self curing
agent (Super Absorbing Polymer – SAP) there by increasing the
water retention capacity of the concrete. The research work was
carried out to reduce water, which is prime material used for concrete
in the construction industry. Concrete curing plays a major role in
developing hydration process. Concept of self curing will reduce the
evaporation of water from concrete. Self curing will increase water
retention capacity as compared to the conventional concrete. Proper
self curing (or) internal curing increases the strength, durability and
performance of concrete. Super absorbing Polymer (SAP) used as
internal curing agent. In this study 0.2% to 0.4% of SAP was varied
in different grade of high strength concrete. In the experiment
replacement of cement by silica fumes with 5%, 10% and 15% are
studied. It is found that replacement of silica fumes by 10 % gives
more strength and durability when compared to others.





References:
[1] H. Abdul Razak and H.S. Wong, “Strength estimation model for highstrength
concrete incorporating metakaolin and silica fume”, Cement
and Concrete Research journal, 2005, Vol. 35, pp 688– 695
[2] Dieb A.S, “Self-curing concrete: Water retention, hydration and
moisture transport, Construction and Building Materials journal, 2007,
Vol 21, pp 1282-1287.
[3] Mohammad Abdur Rashid and Mohammad Abul Mansur,
“Considerations in producing High Strength Concrete”, Journal of Civil
Engineering, 2009, Vol. 37(1), pp 53-63
[4] Arnon Bentur, Shin-ichi-Lgarashi, and Konstantin Kovler, “Preventation
of autogenous shrinkage in high-strength concrete by internal curing
using wet lightweight aggregates” Cement and Concrete Research, 2001,
Vol. 31,pp 1587-1591.
[5] Roberto Troli, Antonio Borsoi, Silvia Collepardi, Glenda Fazio, Mario
Collepardi, and Saveria Monosi, “Self compacting/curing/Compressing
Concrete” 6th International Congress, Global Construction, Ultimate
Concrete opportunities, Dundee, U.K ,2005.
[6] Michael Golias, Javier Castro, Jason Weiss , “The influence of the initial
moisture content of lightweight aggregate on internal curing”,
Construction and Building Materials , 2012, Vol. 35 ,pp 52–62.
[7] Ole Mejlhede Jensen. Pietro Lura, “Techniques and materials for
internal water curing of concrete” Materials and Structures, 2006,
Vol.39, pp 817–825.
[8] M. Yaqub, Imran Bukhari, “Development of mix design for high
strength Concrete,” 31st Conference on our world in concrete &
structures, Singapore, 2006.