Chapter 3, Guide for Curing of Portland Cement Concrete Pavements, FHWA-RD-02-099 - Concrete - Research - Pavements

CHAPTER 3. THE INITIAL CURING PERIOD

The initial curing period is defined in ACI 308 R as the period between placing the concrete and application of final curing.(1) As discussed above, the proper time for application of final curing is approximately at the time of initial setting. Approximate conditions during the initial curing period should be forecast prior to construction, as described in chapter 2. Activities during construction focus on verifying actual conditions and making onsite adjustments. Figure 11 summarizes major action items.

Figure 11. Chart. Major items requiring attention during construction-initial curing period.

VERIFY ONSITE DRYING CONDITIONS

Evaporation Conditions

During placement operations, verify concrete temperatures, wind velocity, air temperature, and relative humidity. Inexpensive instrumentation is readily available for measuring these properties. From these data, evaporation rates can be calculated to determine whether critical drying rates exist, using the equation 4 shown in figure 6 or the nomograph from ACI 308 shown in figure 7.⁽⁴⁾

As discussed in chapter 2, generally speaking, evaporation rates greater than 0.3 kg/m²/h will present a problem for slip-form pavements. However, exact levels depend on the particular bleeding conditions of the job concrete.

Calculate Time of Initial Setting

Using the concrete placing temperature, the time of initial setting can be estimated, as described in the equation shown in figure 5. The time of initial setting is the optimal time for application of final curing.

EFFECTIVE ONSITE ADJUSTMENTS TO CORRECT FOR EXCESSIVE DRYING

Two onsite adjustments can be useful in reducing evaporation rates of bleed water: reducing concrete placing temperatures and use of evaporation reducers.

Concrete Placing Temperatures

Of the variables affecting evaporation rate of bleed water from freshly placed concrete, concrete temperature is one of the most important and probably the only one that can be practically applied at the jobsite for large paving operations. Cooling aggregate stockpiles, cooling mixing water, or using ice for mixing water are very effective ways of reducing concrete temperatures.

The amount of cooling that can be expected from these measures, and its probable effect on evaporation rates, can be estimated from the calculations in ACI 305 R⁽⁵⁾ and the evaporation-rate nomograph in ACI 308,⁽⁴⁾ both of which can be programmed into a spreadsheet to simplify the calculation. The equation shown in figure 6, above, reproduces the information in the ACI 308 nomograph.⁽⁴⁾ The ACI 305 R calculation of concrete placing temperature from ingredient temperatures is reproduced below in figure 12.⁽⁵⁾

Figure 12. Equation. Temperature of fresh concrete from ingredients.

where:
T = concrete placing temperature
Tca = temperature of coarse aggregate
Tfa = temperature of fine aggregate
Tc = temperature of cement
Tp = temperature of pozzolan
Tw = temperature of mixing water, excluding ice
Ti = temperature of ice
Wca = dry mass of coarse aggregate
Wfa = dry mass of fine aggregate
Wc = mass of cement
Wp = mass of pozzolan
Wi = mass of ice
Ww = mass of mixing water
Wcam = mass of free and absorbed moisture in coarse aggregate
Wfam = mass of free and absorbed moisture in fine aggregate

Evaporation Reducers

Evaporation reducers are a relatively new product developed to specifically address the condition of excessive evaporation rates. The approach is to apply evaporation reducers in sufficient quantity and frequency that the concrete does not ever lose critical amounts of water to evaporation. Application is made using the same (or similar) equipment as that used to apply curing compounds.

Evaporation reducers are water emulsions of film-forming compounds. The film-forming compound is the active ingredient that slows down evaporation of water. There is also a benefit from the water fraction of the evaporation reducers, in that it compensates to a small degree for losses of mixing water to evaporation.

Evaporation reducers may need to be applied several times, depending on the conditions. The equation in figure 13, below, yields a conservative estimate of the frequency of application for a given condition.

Frequency of application, F, equals the application rate, AR, divided by the following: evaporation rate of bleed water, ER, times the sum of 1 minus 0.4, minus the bleed rate of concrete, BR.
Figure 13. Equation. Frequency of application of evaporation reducer.

where:
F = frequency of application, h
AR = application rate, kg/m²
ER = evaporation rate of bleed water, kg/m2/h
BR = bleed rate of concrete, kg/m²/h
The constant, 0.4, is taken to be the reduction in evaporation rate affected by an
evaporation reducer. The exact value is difficult to know in the absence of test methods
and specifications, but most manufacturers claim at least a 50 percent reduction in
evaporation. Therefore, this equation is probably conservative. An application of 0.2
kilograms per square meter (kg/m²) also expressed as 5 square meters per liter (m²/L), is
a commonly recommended rate. This is also often near the maximum that can be applied
practically without runoff.

Alternative Curing Compound Practice

The relatively common practice of applying some or all of the curing compound very soon after placing will serve as an effective evaporation reducer. However, there may be problems associated with this practice, as described in chapter 4. If used, this practice should be verified as part of the laboratory verification of curing compound properties, as also described in chapter 4.

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Products and Research Projects Products Publications Concrete Labs	CHAPTER 3. THE INITIAL CURING PERIOD The initial curing period is defined in ACI 308 R as the period between placing the concrete and application of final curing.(1) As discussed above, the proper time for application of final curing is approximately at the time of initial setting. Approximate conditions during the initial curing period should be forecast prior to construction, as described in chapter 2. Activities during construction focus on verifying actual conditions and making onsite adjustments. Figure 11 summarizes major action items. Figure 11. Chart. Major items requiring attention during construction-initial curing period. VERIFY ONSITE DRYING CONDITIONS Evaporation Conditions During placement operations, verify concrete temperatures, wind velocity, air temperature, and relative humidity. Inexpensive instrumentation is readily available for measuring these properties. From these data, evaporation rates can be calculated to determine whether critical drying rates exist, using the equation 4 shown in figure 6 or the nomograph from ACI 308 shown in figure 7.⁽⁴⁾ As discussed in chapter 2, generally speaking, evaporation rates greater than 0.3 kg/m²/h will present a problem for slip-form pavements. However, exact levels depend on the particular bleeding conditions of the job concrete. Calculate Time of Initial Setting Using the concrete placing temperature, the time of initial setting can be estimated, as described in the equation shown in figure 5. The time of initial setting is the optimal time for application of final curing. EFFECTIVE ONSITE ADJUSTMENTS TO CORRECT FOR EXCESSIVE DRYING Two onsite adjustments can be useful in reducing evaporation rates of bleed water: reducing concrete placing temperatures and use of evaporation reducers. Concrete Placing Temperatures Of the variables affecting evaporation rate of bleed water from freshly placed concrete, concrete temperature is one of the most important and probably the only one that can be practically applied at the jobsite for large paving operations. Cooling aggregate stockpiles, cooling mixing water, or using ice for mixing water are very effective ways of reducing concrete temperatures. The amount of cooling that can be expected from these measures, and its probable effect on evaporation rates, can be estimated from the calculations in ACI 305 R⁽⁵⁾ and the evaporation-rate nomograph in ACI 308,⁽⁴⁾ both of which can be programmed into a spreadsheet to simplify the calculation. The equation shown in figure 6, above, reproduces the information in the ACI 308 nomograph.⁽⁴⁾ The ACI 305 R calculation of concrete placing temperature from ingredient temperatures is reproduced below in figure 12.⁽⁵⁾ Figure 12. Equation. Temperature of fresh concrete from ingredients. where: T = concrete placing temperature Tca = temperature of coarse aggregate Tfa = temperature of fine aggregate Tc = temperature of cement Tp = temperature of pozzolan Tw = temperature of mixing water, excluding ice Ti = temperature of ice Wca = dry mass of coarse aggregate Wfa = dry mass of fine aggregate Wc = mass of cement Wp = mass of pozzolan Wi = mass of ice Ww = mass of mixing water Wcam = mass of free and absorbed moisture in coarse aggregate Wfam = mass of free and absorbed moisture in fine aggregate Evaporation Reducers Evaporation reducers are a relatively new product developed to specifically address the condition of excessive evaporation rates. The approach is to apply evaporation reducers in sufficient quantity and frequency that the concrete does not ever lose critical amounts of water to evaporation. Application is made using the same (or similar) equipment as that used to apply curing compounds. Evaporation reducers are water emulsions of film-forming compounds. The film-forming compound is the active ingredient that slows down evaporation of water. There is also a benefit from the water fraction of the evaporation reducers, in that it compensates to a small degree for losses of mixing water to evaporation. Evaporation reducers may need to be applied several times, depending on the conditions. The equation in figure 13, below, yields a conservative estimate of the frequency of application for a given condition. Figure 13. Equation. Frequency of application of evaporation reducer. where: F = frequency of application, h AR = application rate, kg/m² ER = evaporation rate of bleed water, kg/m2/h BR = bleed rate of concrete, kg/m²/h The constant, 0.4, is taken to be the reduction in evaporation rate affected by an evaporation reducer. The exact value is difficult to know in the absence of test methods and specifications, but most manufacturers claim at least a 50 percent reduction in evaporation. Therefore, this equation is probably conservative. An application of 0.2 kilograms per square meter (kg/m²) also expressed as 5 square meters per liter (m²/L), is a commonly recommended rate. This is also often near the maximum that can be applied practically without runoff. Alternative Curing Compound Practice The relatively common practice of applying some or all of the curing compound very soon after placing will serve as an effective evaporation reducer. However, there may be problems associated with this practice, as described in chapter 4. If used, this practice should be verified as part of the laboratory verification of curing compound properties, as also described in chapter 4. 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	This page last modified on 06/09/06