Optimization of Steam-Curing Regime for Recycled Aggregate Concrete Incorporating High Early Strength Cement—A Parametric Study

• Main Authors: Asad Hanif, Yongjae Kim, Muhammad Usman, Cheolwoo Park
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-12-01
• Series: Materials
• Subjects: recycled aggregate; steam curing; waste recycling; concrete; mechanical properties; high early strength
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/11/12/2487

This paper investigates the properties of steam cured recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), in an attempt to determine the optimum conditions of the steam-curing cycle for RAC, and incorporating high early strength cement (HESC). Varying conditions of steam curing were employed. The steam-curing cycle was set based on the peak temperature, and the duration for which the peak temperature was maintained. Three peak temperatures were used for steam curing, 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C, maintained for up to two hours. The compressive strength results indicated that the steam-curing cycle employing the peak temperature of 50 °C maintained for one hour with a total duration of four hours was the optimum for strength development, both at the early and late stages of hydration. Determining the optimum steam-curing temperature and duration will help reduce the associated curing cost, thus further economizing the production cost of recycled aggregate concrete.