Influence of internal curing on the properties of non-fibrous high strength concrete—A critical review

Abstract

The demand for the construction of high-strength concrete in the civil engineering zone is growing, particularly in the last couple of years, due to the construction of sustainable and economic buildings with an extraordinary slim design. Concrete curing in construction is an operative manner and essential to provide that concrete structures meet future performance and durability. High-strength concrete has a low water-to-binder ratio; proper concrete curing is important to ensure its planned performance and durability. Conventionally, exterior curing applied after placing and casting concrete stays warm and moist to provide continued cement hydration. Lately, theoretically and experimentally comprehends that internal curing is an important tool to provide additional moisture in the concrete to enhance cement's hydration. Internal curing of high-strength concrete is an active technique to lessen or even remove autogenous shrinkage and effects on chemical shrinkage, dry shrinkage, etc. Most studies recently have emphasized that a reduction in high strength concrete mixtures' shrinkage is due to internal curing, and the compressive strength can increase higher in mixtures with LWA or SAP than in mixtures without this agent rising degree of hydration by providing extra water in the hydrated cement paste. However, the use of internal curing leads to improving the durability of high-strength concrete.