Investigational studies on the impact of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) for identifying the strength and durability characteristics in self curing concrete

Abstract

For optimal heat of hydration and high strength, conventional concrete requires optimum curing and moisture levels for a minimal of 28 days. The durability and strength may decline if the curing is inadequate. Self-curing concrete (SCC) is a specific type of concrete that reduces inadequate curing resulting from human error. Water scarcity in arid regions, difficulty in accessing buildings in challenging terrain, and locations where the concentration of fluorides in the water may adversely impact the concrete's mechanical properties. Developing concrete using Supplementary Cement Materials (SCM's) that have pozzolanic qualities in nature as well as self-curing additives would be seen as a prospective enterprise for meeting sustainability commitments. Industrial wastes like as Silica Fume (SF), Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), Fly Ash (FA) and Alccofine (AF) are used as SCM. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is an instance of a self-curing compound. Throughout the study, FA and SF will be used as cement substitutions, and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 400) will be used as a self-curing agent, with just a focus on quantifying the influence mostly on hardened qualities of concrete. To test the qualities of concrete, different ratios of cement were substituted for the cement with varying percentages of SF at 5%, 10% and 15% and FA at 30%, 25%, 20%. Different dosages of PEG varying from 0%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.0% are used to understand the optimal dosage of self-curing agent.