Effect of Curing Conditions on the Compressive Strength and Elastic Modulus of Very High-Strength Concrete

Abstract

Abstract With ordinary concrete, although a water content corresponding to about 0.3 water/cement ratio by weight is adequate for complete hydration of portland cement, in practice water/cement ratios in the range of 0.5 to 0.7 are used to achieve proper workability. Thus, ordinary concrete shows rather low strength and high permeability at early ages. With the progress of cement hydration reactions, both strength and impermeability show dramatic improvement as the products of hydration fill up the empty or water-filled spaces present in the cement paste.