Curing of Roller Compacted Concrete: Strength Development

Abstract

This paper reports on the strength development of three concrete mixes, with and without fly‐ash, subjected to many combinations of controlled moist and air‐dry environments during the first 27 days. Mix proportions and specimen fabrication technique were selected so as to reproduce roller compacted concrete construction for pavements, with the intent to determine the effect of curing on such applications. Wet‐dry curing cycles produce sizable moisture fluctuations in the samples; however, it is shown that apparently improper curing conditions do not cause drastic compressive strength reduction, but rather affect the concrete exposed surface layer. Fly‐ash inclusion seems not to alter the sample's compressive strength development as a function of the curing cycles.