Concrete Curing in
Challenging Conditions
Without curing, concrete is like an easily broken mixture of various structural components that can break under excessive load or even under normal load conditions. Underwater curing of concrete needs to be done to freeze the concrete, freeze the concrete and pay special attention to extreme temperatures.
Curing means the hardening of concrete mix in controlled conditions. Temperature and humidity in concrete are two important aspects of curing and depending on these two factors, the concrete gains its strength. Effective treatment ensures that the concrete is durable, resistant to corrosion and resistant to wind and heat. Treatment duration is different for different types of work and temperature conditions. In wet and frozen conditions, traditional methods do not work.
Underwater or Underground Curing of Concrete
Underground construction always poses a serious risk of fixing concrete. For example, underground curing of concrete in tunnels is always affected by the flow of water. The surface is always wet and the concrete setting takes time, making it weak and unstable. Likewise, working in a basement or foundation also has moisture problems. Working underwater conditions requires waterproofing, which increases costs and, secondly, it takes a long time to dry the place. As far as underground tunnel construction is concerned, submerged tube tunneling is an effective way to reduce costs and build a stable tunnel that is least affected by water or moisture drainage.
Likewise, special care and treatment are needed to fix concrete in wet conditions. You just can't keep it and forget about it, despite the fact that without water treatment is not possible, too much water will definitely weaken the concrete and result in cracks on the surface. In areas where there is heavy rainfall, solid treatment becomes very important over time. Similarly, in wet and water-filled conditions, therapeutic care needs to be taken carefully. If the surface is too wet, the first thing to do is to dry the surface with heat.
It may not be possible to completely dry the surface and from there the proportion of free water to the cement becomes important. This ratio should be adjusted according to the surface moisture because if the water-cement ratio exceeds the desired limit, this will result in capillary piercing on the set concrete, resulting in weak strength and durability. Add edits can also be used to speed up the concrete setting process.
Concrete Curing in Freezing Conditions
Building in frozen areas is a daunting task. Ice does not let you and your concrete settle. The hydration of the concrete, or the setting of the concrete, is greatly affected if the temperature is below zero degrees Celsius. The first thing to do before applying concrete is to clean the surface. Putting concrete on an icy surface is a waste of money and resources. Use handpicking tools and scratching tools to allow a certain amount of abrasion to surface on the concrete. Secondly, once the concrete is laid, using heat-saving techniques will help.
Increasing the heat of hydration of concrete results in better treatment and configuration. Insulated sheets, straw plastics, insulated blankets, and windbreaks can be used as they help to increase or at least maintain a constant hydration temperature. However, if the temperature is below 20 degrees F, simply abandon the idea of having concrete as it will not take you anywhere as hydration completely stops at such temperatures.
Here are some in-depth details of things to treat concrete at freezing temperatures
- Stick to the design code, maintain a proper proportion of water-cement, and ensure safe space between reinforcing bars. In wet and humid conditions, the ratio of water to cement should not exceed 0.40.
- In extremely cold regions, propane heaters and polythene walls can be used to keep temperatures above freezing point.
- Wet and freezing conditions mean moisture, which means corrosion when it comes to steel and concrete. Use Portland Type III cement as it helps in an easy setting without degrading the quality of concrete.
- Use additives such as fly ash, silica foam, and furnace slag as they help to control chloride ions, which is a leading cause of steel corrosion in concrete.
- Underwater curing for flatwork applications is made easier with previous concrete. PVC concrete is a coarse aggregate and contains an undisturbed percentage of fine components, especially sand. It contains mixtures that do not allow water to penetrate the solid surface. The last concrete is suitable for the construction of floors because it does not soak in water but allows gallons of water to pass through it without damaging the concrete floor and strength.
- Use solid seals so that water does not penetrate the concrete. Seals not only increase the life of the concrete but also help prevent the failure of concrete treatment. In extremely cold terrain, only breathable concrete sealants should be used, as this will help the water and moisture vapor to support the rapid setting of concrete.
Concrete Curing in Hot Conditions
Even in hot conditions, treatment requires special attention. The problem in such a situation is the opposite of the cold situation. In very hot and humid regions, heat loss and persistence
Fevering results in the loss of moisture from the concrete surface and thus cracking.
Such weather conditions require a high proportion of water-cement, which means that the strength of the concrete will be affected. In such cases recording agents can be used. The use of type II cement is also helpful as it produces less heat and helps preserve moisture content. Proper supply of water, and wetting of concrete after placement, is important so that the concrete cannot be broken and strength is not compromised.
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