Influence of early-age moist curing time on the late-age properties of concretes with different binders

Abstract

The influence of early-age moist curing time on the late-age properties including compressive strength, permeability to chloride ion, and porosity of concretes with different binders is investigated. Five different binders are adopted: pure cement, 50% fly ash replacement, 50% GGBS replacement, 50% steel slag replacement, and 10% silica fume replacement. Three curing conditions are adopted: moist curing till testing age, moist curing for 3 days, and moist curing for 7 days. The results show that decreasing the early-age moist curing time has negative effects on the late-age properties of most concretes by decreasing the compressive strength, increasing permeability and porosity. The negative effects are smaller at lower W/B. Binders with lower early activity are more sensitive to the early-age moist curing time. The late-age properties of the concrete with 50% fly ash replacement are greatly reduced by decreasing the early-age moist curing time.