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Experimental Study on the Properties of Self-Curing Concrete

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 International Journal of Concrete Technology
Vol. 3: Issue 1
www.journalspub.com

Experimental Study on the Properties of Self-Curing Concrete

A. Ananthi*, R. Ranjith, S. Swarna Latha, R. Vimal Raj
Department of Civil Engineering, J. J. College of Engineering and Technology, Ammapettai, Tiruchirapalli,
Tamilnadu, India

ABSTRACT
This paper highlights the effect of curing agent polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) in the
performance of concrete. The chemical agent PEG is used with different percentage; 1%, 2%
and 3% to the weight of cement. Super plasticizer named glenium was used to improve the
workability of concrete. The property such as compressive strength and split tensile strength
of concrete was examined with normal curing and self-curing at 7 days and 28 days for M40
mixes. From the results, it was seen that the optimum dosage of PEG 400 for maximum
strength was found to be 2% for M40 grade. An average increase in the compressive strength
of 12% was found when self-curing concrete of PEG 400 was used in curing than the
conventional curing of concrete. Self-curing concrete has 1.5% higher tensile strength than
conventional concrete.

Keywords: Compressive strength, PEG 400, self-curing concrete, split tensile strength

*Corresponding Author
E-mail: ananthi.sivane@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION content badly influences the property of

Today concrete technology has been
undergoing rapid improvement. Concrete
has number of characteristics that can
improve the sustainability performance of
building of structure. For better
performance and durability, proper curing
of concrete is important. Curing of
concrete is one major area that lacks due
attention and due importance in the
construction field, especially in India.
Tyagi [1] stated that, some measures must
be taken to prevent the loss of water from
the surface of concrete. Therefore, the
curing can be considered as creation of a
favorable environment during the early
period for uninterrupted hydration. Junaid
et al. [2] stated that, self-curing concrete is
one of the special concretes which is
gaining importance in recent days as it
avoids errors which were caused by
human, structures which are not
accessible, terrains where curing becomes
difficult and in places where the fluoride
concrete. Mohanraj et al. [3] proved that
the function of self-curing agent is to
reduce the water evaporation from
concrete, and hence they increase the
water retention capacity of concrete
compared to the conventionally cured
concrete. The use of self-curing
admixtures is very important from the
point of view that saving of water is a
necessity everyday (each one cubic meter
of concrete requires 3 m3 of water in a
construction, most of which is used for
curing).
LITERATURE REVIEW
Azhagarsamy and Sundaraman (2016) [4]
studied the strength and durability
properties of concrete using water soluble
polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) 0.5% as
self-curing agent using M20 grade
concrete. The compressive strength at 3, 7
and 28 days have been obtained with
normal curing and self-curing condition. It

IJCT (2017) 8–13 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved Page 8

 Properties of Self-Curing Concrete
was found that an average increase in
compressive strength of 12.73% and split
tensile strength 13.31% with 0.5% of
PEG-400. This shows that self-curing
concrete showed a better performance than
the conventional concrete.
Jagannadha Rao and coworkers (2012) [5]
utilize the shrinkage reducing admixture
PEG 400 in concrete which helps in self-
curing and helps in better hydration. The
effect of admixture (PEG 400) on
compressive strength, split tensile strength
and modulus of rupture by varying the
percentage of PEG by weight of cement
from 0% to 2% were studied both for M20
and M40 mixes. It was found that PEG
400 could help in self-curing by giving
strength on comparing with conventional
curing. It was also found that 1% of PEG
400 by weight of cement was optimum for
M20, while 0.5 % was optimum for M40
grade concretes for achieving maximum
strength.
Patel and Pitroda (2013) [6] used PEG 400
in conventional concrete as an admixture
for better hydration. The effect of
admixture (PEG 400) on compressive
strength, split tensile strength and modulus
of rupture by varying the percentage of
PEG by weight of cement from 0% to 2%
were studied. The test result indicates that
use of water soluble polymers in concrete
has improved performance of concrete.
About 1% of PEG 400 by weight of
cement was optimum for M20 grade
concrete for achieving maximum strength.
Sometimes works are carried out in place
where there is acute shortage of water and
Table 1. Properties of cement.
S. no Property Result
1 Specific gravity 2.8
2 Normal consistency 32%
3 Initial setting time final setting 30 mins
time 600 mins
4 Fineness of cement (by 90 5%
micron sieve) retained
IJCT (2017) 8–13 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved
Ananthi et al.
the application of water curing is not
possible for reasons of economy.
Prevention of moisture loss from the
surface of flat concrete works such as
highways and airports have been
challenging task for construction
managers. In order to overcome these
difficulties, self-curing concrete was
selected for this present work since self-
curing concrete will represent a new trend
in concrete construction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials Used Cement
Portland pozzolona cement (PPC)
conforming to IS 1489-part 1 [7] was used
and tested as per the Indian Standards IS
4031-1988 [8]. The properties of cement
used are tabulated in the Table 1.
Fine Aggregate
Fine aggregate conforms to the grading
curve zone II with specific gravity 2.6 and
fineness modulus 2.12 was thus obtained
as per IS 383-1970 [9] Specifications.
Coarse aggregate
20 mm nominal size with specific gravity
2.7 and water absorption 1.065%
conforming to IS 383-1970 [9]
specifications and tested as per IS 2386
[10] standards.
Superplasticizer
Super plasticizers, also known as high
range water reducers, are chemical
admixtures used where well-dispersed
particle suspension is required. A modified
polycarboxylic ether-based
superplasticizer, glenium B233 was used.
Permissible limit
2.9 (confirming to IS 4031-1988 part 11)
(confirming to 4031-1988 part 4)
30 mins to 10 hours (confirming to 4031-1988 part
5)
Not exceed 10%confirming to 4031-1988 part 3)
Page 9

Polyethylene Glycol
PEG-400 is a low molecular-weight grade
of PEG. It is a clear, colorless, viscous
liquid. Due in part to its low toxicity, PEG
400 is widely used in a variety of
pharmaceutical formulations. It is soluble
in water, acetone, benzene, glycerin,
glycols and aromatic hydrocarbons and is
slightly soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons.
PEG-400 Chemical formula is
3
2nH4n+2On+1, Density is 128 g/cm and
melting point is 4 to 8ºC (39 to 46ºF; 277
to 281 K).
Water
Portable water confirming to the
requirements of IS 456-2000 [11]
Specifications was used.
Preparation of Specimens
M40 grade concrete mix was prepared
based on the recommendations of IS
10262-2009 [12] Specifications. Ratios for
M40 mix 1:1.89:3.6. The ingredients for
the various mixes were weighed and
prepared the mixes by tilting drum type
concrete mixture machines. Precautions
were taken to ensure uniform mixing of
ingredients. The specimen were cast in
steel mold and compacted by a tamping
rod. The specimens of
150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm size of
cubes and 150 mm diameter × 300 mm
high cylinder specimens were prepared for
the determination of compressive strength
and split tensile strength at 7 and 28 days,
respectively. Curing of specimen was
started as soon as the top surface of the
concrete in the mold was stiff. To easily
identify the mixes, CC stands for
conventional concrete, SCC 1 for self-
curing concrete with 1% of PEG, SCC 2
for self-curing concrete with 2% of PEG
and SCC 3 for Self Curing Concrete with
3% of PEG.
Experimental Investigation
Workability
Properties of fresh concrete shall be
IJCT (2017) 8–13 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved
International Journal of Concrete Technology
Vol. 3: Issue 1
www.journalspub.com
determined using the slump cone test. The
slump cone test is the most commonly
used method of measuring consistency of
concrete, which can be employed either in
the laboratory or at the site of work as per
IS 7320-1974 [13]. Slump cone test is used
as a control test and to indicate the
uniformity of concrete from batch to batch.
The slump cone test consists of a cone of
height 30 cm, bottom diameter as 20 cm
and top diameter as10 cm. The mold is
placed on the clean and smooth surface.
The mold is then filled in four layers and
each layer is tamped 25 times using the
tamping rod. After filling the top layer, the
concrete is leveled with a tamping rod and
trowel. The mold is then removed slowly
by raising it carefully in the vertical
direction. The difference in level between
the height of the mold and that of the
highest point of the subsided concrete is
measured. The difference in height
measured is the slump of the concrete.
Compressive Strength Test
Compressive strength of HPFRC mixes
was tested using compression testing
machine of 3000 kN capacity as per IS
516-1959 [14] specifications. Fresh
concrete was filled in the steel molds of
required size and then vibrated for 3
minutes using vibrating table for getting
better compaction and finishability in
concrete. Concrete cubes of size 150 mm ×
150 mm × 150 mm were prepared and
allowed to dry for 24 hours and demolded
from the steel molds and tested for
compression at 7 and 28 days. The
compressive strength of the test specimens
are determined using the formula fc = P/A
where fc is the compressive strength of the
specimen in N/mm2, P is the maximum
load applied in kN and A is the cross
sectional area of the specimen in mm2.
Split Tensile Strength Test
Cylindrical specimens of size 300 mm ×
150 mm were prepared using the steel
molds. The specimens were immersed in
Page 10
 Properties of Self-Curing Concrete
curing tank after demolding. The
specimens were taken out from the curing
tank at 7 and 28 days and tested for split
tensile strength as displayed in the Figure
1. The test is carried out by placing
horizontally the cylindrical specimen
between the loading surfaces of a
compression testing machine as per IS
5816-1999 [15] standards. Split tensile
strength was calculated as T=2P/πLD
where P – compressive load (kN), T – split
tensile strength (N/mm2), L – length of the
cylinder (mm), and D – diameter of the
cylinder (mm).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Workability
Slump test is used to determine the
workability of fresh concrete. The slump
Fig.1. Compressive strength of SCC specimens.
Split Tensile Strength Test
Conventional concrete has attained a
tensile strength of 4.5 N/mm2 at 7 days.
Tensile strength for self-curing concrete
increases at 2% dosage of PEG. The test
results were graphically represented in
Figure 2. From the results, it was observed
IJCT (2017) 8–13 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved
Ananthi et al.
value of the conventional concrete is 25
mm. When 1% and 2% of PEG used in
concrete, i.e. for SCC 1 and SCC2, 25 mm
slump value was obtained. For SCC3, the
slump value is reduced to 24 mm. When
3% of PEG used in concrete, workability
is increased than other mixes.
Compressive Strength Test
Compressive strength test results of 7 days
conventional concrete has attained strength
of 21.1% and self-curing concrete with 2%
of PEG has attained higher strength of 22
N/mm2 when compared to other dosages.
At 28 days testing of concrete,
conventional concrete has attained strength
of 37.3 N/mm2. Self-curing concrete with
2% of PEG has attained strength of 42.06
N/mm2 as per in the Figure 1.
that conventional concrete has attained a
tensile strength of 6.5 N/mm2. Tensile
strength for self-curing concrete attains 7.1
N/mm2 for 2% dosage of PEG. The test
results were graphically represented in
Figure 2 [16, 17].
Page 11

Fig.2. Tensile strength of SCC specimens.
CONCLUSION
 The optimum dosage of PEG400 for
maximum strength was found to be 2%
for M40 grade.
 From the workability test, it was seen
that an increases in glenium dosages
increases the workability at the rate of
3.3%.
 An average increase in the
compressive strength of 2.25% was
found when self-curing concrete of
PEG 400 was used in curing than the
conventional curing of concrete at the
age of 7 days.
 An average increase in the
compressive strength of 12% was
found when self-curing concrete of
PEG 400 was used in curing than the
conventional curing of concrete at the
age of 28 days.
 Self-curing concrete has 1.5% higher
tensile strength than conventional
concrete.
 Hence, self-curing concrete can be
effectively used where there is scarcity
of water and inaccessible difficult
terrains.
IJCT (2017) 8–13 © JournalsPub 2017. All Rights Reserved
International Journal of Concrete Technology
Vol. 3: Issue 1
www.journalspub.com
 Self-curing concrete is the solution to
many problems faced due to lack of
proper curing.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful to the
Department of Civil Engineering, J. J.
College of Engineering and Technology,
Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu. The authors
would like to express their sincere thanks
to the Principal and Director of the J. J.
College of Engineering and Technology,
Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu for approving
the project and for making use the
resources of the college for the successful
completion of the project.
REFERENCES
1. S. Tyagi. An experimental
investigation of self-curing concrete
incorporated with polyethylene glycol
as self-curing agent, IRJET. 2015;
2(6).
2. S.M. Junaid, S. Saddam, M. Junaid, K.
Yusuf, S.A. Huzaifa, Self-curing
concrete, IJAFRSE. 2015; 1(Special
issue).
Page 12
 Properties of Self-Curing Concrete
3. Mohanraj, M. Rajendran, A.S.
Ramesh, M. Mahalakshmi, S. Manoj
Prabhakar, An experimental
investigation of eco-friendly self-
curing concrete incorporated with
polyethylene glycol, IARJSET. 2014;
1(2).
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K. Jagannadha Rao. Strength
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IJRET. 2012; 1(1).
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Ananthi et al.
sources for concrete, Bureau of Indian
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