Expanded Clay Applications in Internal Curing of Concrete

7 pages•Published: September 25, 2020

Abstract

Internal curing is used to reduce shrinkage and early age cracking of poured concrete. The internal curing process depends on providing internal moisture to hardening concrete using prewetted light weight aggregates, as expanded slates and shales. The main objective of this research is to produce internally cured light-weight concrete mixes to be used in bridge deck construction. Light-weight mixes are developed by incorporating different percentages of pre-wetted expanded clays in partial replacement of mix coarse aggregates. Expanded clays will internally provide the concrete with adequate moisture to account for water evaporating during concrete hardening. Produced concrete mixes are characterized by light weight, comparable compressive strength, and reduced shrinkage and early-age cracking. Produced lightweight mixes showed comparable strength with minimized shrinkage, which will positively impact the durability of concrete

Keyphrases: Cracking, Expanded Clay, Expanded shales, Internal curing, shrinkage

In: Tom Leathem (editor). Associated Schools of Construction Proceedings of the 56th Annual International Conference, vol 1, pages 447--453

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/KZkB
	https://doi.org/10.29007/qdh4