Effect of initial curing on absorption and pore size distribution of paste and concrete containing slag

• Published in: KSCE journal of civil engineering Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 264 - 272
• Main Author: Khatib, J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2014; Springer Nature B.V; 대한토목학회
• Subjects: Absorption; Civil Engineering; Concrete; Concrete mixes; Concretes; Curing; Curing (processing); Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Industrial Pollution Prevention; Mixes; Pastes; Pore size; Pore size distribution; Porosity; Position (location); Relative humidity; Size distribution; Slag; Slags; Structural Engineering; Volume; Water absorption; 토목공학; pore volume; waste; water absorption coefficient; location; slag; absorption
• ISSN: 1226-7988; 1976-3808
• DOI: 10.1007/s12205-014-0449-7

The water absorption by shallow immersion and capillary rise of concrete with and without slag is investigated. Paste specimens representing the binder phase of the concrete mixes were prepared to study their porosity and pore size distribution. Specimens were subjected to elevated and normal temperature curing at different relative humidities. The results show that the inclusion of slag is beneficial when mixes are subjected to some initial moist curing. However, concrete containing slag is more sensitive to dry curing than concrete without slag. The influence of sample location within a concrete or paste specimens on absorption and pore size distribution is also considered. Substantial difference in absorption exists between samples taken from the top (trowelled) face and the bottom face of concrete cube of 100 mm in size for both the control and slag mixes. Also the intruded pore volume and pore size distribution of paste vary depending upon the location within a cube relative to the casting position. Correlation between the intruded pore volume of the paste and absorption of concrete shows a relationship between these parameters.