Experimental Study on Compressive Strength, Water Retention And Water Absorption of self-curing Concrete With Different Curing Conditions

Curing of concrete is maintaining satisfactory moisture content in concrete during its early stages in order to develop the desired properties. « However good curing is not always practical in many cases, therefore the need to develop self-curing agents attracted several researchers ». « The concept of several self-curing agents is to reduce water evaporation from concrete and hence increase the water retention capacity of concrete compared to conventional concrete, the use of self-curing agent is very important from the point view that water resources are getting valuable every day ». This project summarizes various aspects of self-curing of concrete which can be of valuable assistance in adopting good construction practices at site. M25 grade concrete cube specimens prepared based on the standards and availability of materials without and with 30% of flyash and quarry dust replaced as cement and fine aggregate and cubes cured by covering them with a external self-curing compound BONDIT CURE WB, air dried and normal water. These specimens are then tested after 7,14 and 28 days to obtain the compressive strength in three different conditions. The compressive strength of concrete cubes is calculated and compressive strength of self-curing concrete is compared with the different conditions. At the end of curing period of 7,14 and 28 days the amount of water retained in self cured concrete cubes is calculated and compared with the air dried cubes. Water absorption test is conducted on air dried concrete and self cured concrete cubes and the amount of water is absorbed is calculate and compared