heat curing concrete
heat curing concrete
(OP)
Hi all;
I have a question for the experts (as I am far from 1, still green engineer). Aside from the obvious creep/shrinkage cracking, are there any other problems with heat curing concrete. We regularly use propane heaters to heat cure our projects, and completely strip forms the next day (tunnelform technology - pouring walls and slab in one cycle).
We obviously get the required strength for stripping, and was wondering if anyone remembers the formula for calculating f'c for this situation (calculating concrete strength based on time, and the effect of heat curing)
Thanks in advance.
PMT B.Eng
I have a question for the experts (as I am far from 1, still green engineer). Aside from the obvious creep/shrinkage cracking, are there any other problems with heat curing concrete. We regularly use propane heaters to heat cure our projects, and completely strip forms the next day (tunnelform technology - pouring walls and slab in one cycle).
We obviously get the required strength for stripping, and was wondering if anyone remembers the formula for calculating f'c for this situation (calculating concrete strength based on time, and the effect of heat curing)
Thanks in advance.
PMT B.Eng






RE: heat curing concrete
You are potentially compromising the surface durability of the concrete by introducing early carbonation of the surface. Further, you are "drying" the concrete which leads to exacerbated shrinkage and larger cracks.
Provided the concrete is not exposed to freezing or near freezing temperatures, it should be wet cured or at the least the moisture in the concrete should be retained.
High temperatures during the initial curing stages will cause a reduction in ultimate strength of the concrete.
RE: heat curing concrete
They often use 'heat curing' in the form of steam speed up the curing for regular and pretensioned precast. It reduces the time in the shop and frees up the molds for the next element.
RE: heat curing concrete
RE: heat curing concrete
I seem to remember reading some specifications for winter concrete that called for X number of curing hours at Y degrees before stripping. If I find the reference I will post it.