PLACING, CURING, COMPACTION of CONCRETE

Placing of Concrete
•Segregation
•Bonding
•Temperature control
•Maximum drop
Compaction of Concrete
Finishing Concrete
Curing of Concrete
•What is Curing?
•Is Curing Necessary?
•Why Curing Is So Important?
•Results of Proper Curing
•Methods of Curing
•What is Sealing?
•Why Seal?
 Placing of Concrete

*You cannot obtain the full value of well-designed

concrete without  using  proper  placing
procedures.

*Good  concrete  placing  and  compacting

 techniques produce a tight bond between the
paste and aggregate and fill the forms completely.

*Both of these factors ; contribute to  the  full

 strength  and  best  appearance  of concrete
The following are some of the principles of
concrete placement:

*Segregation

*Bonding

*Temperature control

*Maximum drop
 Segregation

* Avoid segregation during all operations,  from

 the  mixer  to  the  point  of placement,  including
 final  consolidation  and finishing.

* Thoroughly consolidate the concrete, working

solidly around all embedded reinforcement and
filling all form angles and corners.
 Bonding

*  When placing   fresh concrete against or

upon hardened concrete, make sure that  a
 good  bond  develops.

Temperature control

* Take  appropriate  steps to  control  the

 temperature  of  fresh concrete from mixing through
final placement.

* Protect the concrete from temperature extremes

after placement.
 Maximum drop

*To save time and effort, youmay  be  tempted

 to  simply  drop  the  concrete directly from the
delivery chute regardless of form height.

*However, unless the free fall into the form is

less than 1,3m, use vertical pipes, suitable  drop
 chutes,  or  baffles.  Figure  7-41 suggests
several ways to control concrete fall.

*Good  control  prevents  honeycombing  and

other undesirable results.
•Concrete should be placed, then screeded to the proper
elevation. The surface should be bullfloated before bleed water
accumulates on the surface. Finishing must be delayed until
water sheen has disappeared from the surface.

•The least amount of finishing should then be done: do not add

water to or overwork the surface. A broom finish is
recommended for exterior concrete, except when special
textured finishes (like exposed aggregate or stamped or
impressed finishes) are desired.

•In hot weather, fresh concrete should be protected from the

sun and wind - even before it is finished. Confilm, a surface
evaporation retarder, is one way to protect concrete in hot
weather.

•Concrete can also be safely placed in cold weather when

proper precautions are taken
Cold Weather Concreting
 
1.Use of air entrainment.
* Precautions that may 2.Use of lower slump concrete.
be taken in unfavourable 3.Use of an approved accelerating
cold conditions referred admixture.
4.Use of water reducers.
to above, incude the 5.Increased cement content.
rightside: 6.Protection of aggregates against
frost.
7.Use of hot water or heated
aggregates.
8.Avoidance of placing concrete on a
frozen subgrade.
9.Protecting the surface of the freshly
placed concrete from frost until the
strength of at least 3.5 mPa has been
achieved - this is usually a period of
not less than two days.
 Hot Weather Concreting

 
*High temperatures result in 1.Elapsed time mixing and placing
more rapid hydration of should be minimised.
cement, and hence early 2.Exposure of mixers and agitators
stiffening of the concrete, to the hot sun, while waiting to be
unloaded, should be ;minimised.
greater mixing water
3.Use suitable retaring admixtures.
demands, increased 4.Avoid excessive mixing.
evaporation of mixing water, 5.Wet forms, reinforcing, subgrade
reduced strengths, and large and surrounding areas by spraying
volume changes; and greater with water shortly before placing.
chances of plastic cracking. 6.Speed up placing.
7.Use fog sprays shortly after
placement.
8.Give prompt curing and protect
exposed surfaces from drying out
Concrete Placing Equipment
 Compaction

•Compaction ensures the optimum density of the mix is

achieved, increasing compressive strength. Where
reinforcing is used, the bond between concrete and
redistribution bar is improved. Permeability of the
concrete decreases, decreasing cold joints,
honeycombing entrapped air and segregation.
 VIBRATION

•Vibrators  consolidate  concrete  by  pushing  the coarse

aggregate downward, away from the point of vibration.

• Vibrators  allow  placement  of  mixtures  that are  too

 stiff  to  place  any  other  way,  such  as  those having a
1- or 2-inch slump.

•Stiff mixtures are more economical  because  they  require

 less  cement  and present   fewer   segregation   or
  bleeding   problems. However, do not use a mix so stiff
that it requires too much labor to place it
 Mechanical Vibrators

•The  best  compacting  tool  is  a  mechanical  vibrator. The

 best  vibrators  available  in engineering  construction
 battalions  are  called  internal vibrators  because  the
 vibrating  element  is  inserted into the concrete.
•When using an internal vibrator, insert  it  at
 approximately  46cm  intervals  into air-entrained
 concrete  for  5  to  10  seconds  and  into nonair-
entrained concrete for 10 to 15 seconds. The exact
period of time that you should leave a vibrator in  the
 concrete  depends  on  its  slump.
 Hand  Methods

Manual  consolidation  methods  require  spades, puddling

 sticks,  or  various  types  of  tampers.  To consolidate
 concrete  by  spading,  insert  the  spade along  the  inside
 surface  of  the  forms  , through  the  layer  just  placed,
 and  several  inches  into the layer underneath. Continue
spading or puddling until  the  coarse  aggregate  disappears
 into  the concrete.
 FINISHING CONCRETE

•The finishing process provides the final concrete surface.  Ther

 are  many  ways  to  finish  concrete surfaces,   depending   on
  the   effect   required. Sometimes you only need to correct
surface defects, fill  bolt  holes,  or  clean  the  surface.
 Unformed surfaces  may  require  only  screeding  to  proper
 contour and  elevation,  or  a  broomed,  floated,  or  trowelled
finish may be specified.
 SCREEDING

•The  top  surface  of  a  floor  slab,  sidewalk,  or

pavement  is  rarely  placed  at  the  exact  specified
elevation.

•Screeding   brings   the   surface   to   the required

 elevation  by  striking  off  the  excess  concrete.

•Two types of screeds are used in concrete finishing

operations: the  hand  screed  and  the  mechanical
screed
 Hand  Screed

•Hand screeding requires a tool called a screed. This is actually a

templet (usually a 2-by-4) having a straight  lower  edge  to  produce  a
 flat  surface  (or  a curved  lower  edge  to  produce  a  curved
 surface).

•Move the screed back and forth across the concrete using a sawing
motion. With each  sawing  motion,  move  the  screed  forward  an  inch
or so along the forms.

•This forces the concrete built up against the screed face into the low
spots. If the screed  tends  to  tear  the  surface,  as  it  may  on air-
entrained  concrete  due  to  its  sticky  nature,  either reduce  the  rate
 of  forward  movement  or  cover  the lower edge of the screed with
metal.
 Mechanical Screed

•The  mechanical  screed  is  being  used  more  and more  in
 construction  for  striking  off  concrete  slabs  on highways,
bridge decks, and deck slabs. This screed incorporates  the
 use  of  vibration  and  permits  the  use of   stronger,   and
  more   economical,   low-slump concrete.

• It can strike off this relatively dry material smoothly  and

 quickly. The  advantages  of  using  a vibrating  screed  are
 greater  density  and  stronger concrete.  

•Vibrating  screeds  give  abetter  finish,  reduce

maintenance, and save considerable time due to the speed at
which they operate. Vibrating screeds are also much less
fatiguing to operate than hand screeds.
Mechanical screeding machine
 Curing

•Proper curing greatly increases the durability of

concrete. Concrete should be cured with a curing
compound sprayed on the surface immediately after
the final finishing, or by approved moist curing
methods.

•Concrete should cure 3 to 7 days before being put

in service. (For driveways, car traffic may begin
after 3 days; trucks and other vehicles, 7 days.)

• A cure and seal compound with an ultraviolet (UV)

protectant is recommended to keep your concrete
from gaining a yellow tint.
 What is Curing?

•Curing is the maintaining of a satisfactory

moisture content and temperature in concrete, so
that the concrete may develop the desired
strength and hardness.

• Correctly cured, concrete shrinks, cracks and

dusts less, while gaining strength, durability and
wear resistance.
•Without an adequate supply of moisture, the Portland
Cement in the concrete cannot chemically react to
form a quality product.

• Drying may remove the water needed for this

chemical reaction called "hydration," and the concrete
will be weak.

•Temperature is an important factor in proper curing,

since the rate of hydration is temperature dependent.

•For outdoor concrete, relative humidity and wind

conditions are also important; they contribute to the
rate of evaporation from the concrete.
 Is Curing Necessary?

•Tests show that improper curing can easily cut the strength of
even the best concrete by 50%.

• Concrete placed under high temperature conditions will gain

early strength quickly, but later strengths may be reduced.

• Concrete placed in cold weather will take longer to gain

strength, delaying form removal and subsequent construction.

•Properly cured concrete provides improved durability.

•Well cured concrete has better surface hardness and

therefore is more watertight.
 Why Curing Is So Important ?

•Improper curing can easily cut the strength of even the best
concrete by 50%.Curing simply means keeping the water in the
concrete where it can Do its job of chemically combining with
the cement to change the cement into a tough "glue" that will
help develop strong, durable concrete.

•Good curing means keeping the concrete damp and at about

70°F (21°C) until the concrete is strong enough to do its job.

•Recommended practice calls for a minimum of seven days

curing for ambient temperatures about 40°F (4°C) or the time
necessary to attain 70% of the specified compressive or
flexural strength, whichever period is less.
•All concrete must be cured to attain maximum
strength. Correctly cured concrete is best from every
standpoint: It shrinks less, cracks less and dusts less.
It is stronger, more durable and has a more wear
resistant surface.

•Start curing the concrete as soon as possible after it

has hardened. Early drying- especially in hot, windy
weather- must be prevented or the concrete will not
attain its full potential quality.
Methods of Curing

•Membrane Curing Compounds

•Water Spray

•Waterproof Paper

•Damp Burlap

•Accelerated Curing
   Membrane Curing Compounds

•The most common method of keeping moisture in the

concrete. Membrane curing compounds are low in cost and
can be easily brushed or sprayed on immediately after the
concrete is laid without worrying about marring the
surface.

•All of the manufacturers directions must be completely

followed for maximum protection. Compounds that have an
ultraviolet (UV) protectant are recommended as some
compounds give concrete a yellow tint.
 Water Spray
•A good curing method, but only if the concrete is kept continuously
damp.Allowing the concrete surface to dry between sprinkling can cause
crazing of the surface and cracking of slabs.

Waterproof Paper
•Holds moisture in the concrete by preventing evaporation. This
method is acceptable for slabs but not practical for wall,
irregular surfaces or colored slabs.

Damp Burlap
•Sometimes an effective method of curing. The burlap must be
washed and free of anything that might stain or harm the
concrete. It is not practical for large areas, and it must be kept
damp to prevent water lost through evaporation
 What is Sealing?

•Sealing is a glossy film sprayed or rolled on concrete

slabs to make them resistant to liquid and dirt
impregnation.

• It provides good resistance to traffic, abrasion,

alkalis and many low concentration chemicals.

• Sealers are designed to keep moisture out of the

concrete, especially in the first year when the
concrete is curing and gaining strength. This provides
for scale-resistant concrete.
 Why Seal?

•In order to prevent concrete surface scaling during

the winter, it is a good idea to consider the application
of a quality concrete surface sealer for all concrete
surfaces that will be exposed to wetting and freezing.

• The presence of a surface sealer before winter will

minimize the amount of water penetrating into the
concrete, which decreases the likelihood of freezing
damage.

•A surface sealer will enhance the performance of

concrete and result in greater concrete service life.
 Results of Proper Curing

•More Durable Concrete: Good concrete, properly cured,

means fewer pores and crevices where water can enter,
freeze, expand and crack the concrete.
Air entrainment helps make more durable concrete, but its
use must also be accompanied by proper curing.

•More Wear-Resistant Concrete: Well-cured concrete (28

Day curing period) will develop a surface twice as wear
resistant as a surface that us cured for only three days.
•Proper curing prevents dusting, and means less cracking,
crazing and spalling of the concrete. All in all, the better the
curing, the better the concrete.
 Application of heat
 The development of strength of concrete is
a function of not only time but also that of
temperature. When concrete is subjected
to higher temperature it accelerates the
hydration process resulting in faster
development of strength. Concrete cannot
be subjected to dry heat to accelerate the
hydration process as the presence of
moisture is also an essential requisite.
(steam curing )
 Application of heat

The exposure of concrete to higher

temperature is done in the following
manner:
 Steam curing at ordinary pressure.
 Steam curing at high pressure
(Autoclaving).
 Curing by Infra-red radiation.
 Electrical curing.
Steam Curing
Effect of Steam Curing
Effect of steam curing
Effect of Temperature
 Steam Curing Cycle
Maximum Temperature
Preset Curing
Rise

5 10 15 20 25
1
0
 Electrical Curing
 Concrete can be cured electrically by passing an
alternating current (Electrolysis trouble
 will be encountered if direct current is used)
through the concrete itself between two
electrodes either buried in or applied to the
surface of the concrete. Care must be taken to
prevent the moisture from going out leaving the
concrete completely dry
 Curing by Infra-red Radiation
 Curing of concrete by Infra-red Radiation has been
practiced in very cold climatic regions in Russia.
 It is claimed that much more rapid gain of strength can
be obtained than with steam curing and that rapid initial
temperature does not cause a decrease in the ultimate
strength as in the case of steam curing at ordinary
pressure. The system is very often adopted for the
curing of hollow concrete products. The normal operative
temperature is kept at about 90°C.