Use of Thermostone Waste Aggregates for Internal Curing of Reactive Powder Concrete

Abstract

The concrete need curing for cement hydration that is a chemical reaction in each step require water supply throughout the time period. The traditional concrete cured by external method that prevents the concrete surface dry so that keeping the concrete mixture wet and warm. The internal curing was adopted in normal and high strength concrete such as reactive powder concrete. In present paper, experimental approach is to study the mechanical properties of reactive powder concrete cured internally with thermostone material. The materials that adopted to evaluate and find out the influences of the internal curing on the mechanical properties of reactive powder concrete is focused with different curing methods such as in water, air and combined water and air. Thermostone aggregate are used as partial sand replacement by volume with different percentages to explore the percentage that effects of the concrete mechanical properties. Test results showed that the best partial replacement by thermostone is 5% gave enhancement and increase in compressive strength and flexural resistance strength (modulus of rupture) and concrete density. Highest increasing of compressive strength is 10.07in case of 5% partial replacement at 90 days. In case of cured the specimens up to 90 days, the increase in modulus of rupture is 4.53%