Optimized material post-treatment for an improved structural performance
Abstract
The curing of concrete has a great influence on the quality of concrete building blocks, because the cement is only able to hydrate, when there is enough moisture available. Due to a lack of curing the capillary pores of the outer concrete surface dry out. This leads to a stillstand of the hydration and the structure remains porous. As a result of this the concrete in the areas close to the surface, which are highly exposed to the weather and environmental conditions, are less durable. Therefore the surface of green concrete has to be protected against early dehydration. On account of the lack of knowledge, the necessary construction process to meet the time plan, as well as the lack of controlling options, curing of concrete doesn’t get the needed attention. In the past, some test methods were investigated to examine the curing quality, but with these methods a General statement about the quality of the curing wasn’t possible. Throughout the research project OptiNB correlations between established Evaluation procedures, often destructive procedures which are not practicable on site, and alternatives, if possible non-destructive, sensor based and locally practicable, are going to be made. During this project test specimens with infrastructural relevant types of concrete are going to be produced. These specimens are going to go through different curing procedures and laboratory simulated extreme climate conditions. With these samples there are going to be determinations about different resistance parameters, with a focus on the progress of carbonation (XC) and the chloride resistance (XD). Furthermore, alternative, on site useable mobile methods (such as water permeability, gas permeability etc.), are tested. In addition, there are going to be tests about indirect possibilities to rate the curing and the correct hydration process. Some of these new methods are infrared cameras/thermography, hyperspectral analyses, digital camera (ortho mosaic) technology for the valuation of the microstructure, concrete resistance sensors, as well as multigas-analyzer for the valuation of the surrounding milieu (caused by the hydration) close to the surface of the concrete. The aim of this project is the determination of practically oriented, reliable and easy implementable parameters, procedures and detection methods to evaluate the quality of the concrete curing. The findings of this project are going to be summarized, rated and a guideline will be provided to the client.
Reliability Materials Curing Optimization
Publikationen
Project staff
Alfred Strauss
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Alfred Strauss
alfred.strauss@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-87511
Project Leader
01.07.2018 - 30.11.2020
BOKU partners
External partners
Smartminerals GmbH
Dr. Martin Peyerl
coordinator