Effect of Curing Regime on the Mechanical Strength, Hydration, and Microstructure of Ecological Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete (EUHPC)

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of curing regimes (standard and steam curing) on the mechanical strength, hydration, and microstructure of ecological ultrahigh-performance concrete (EUHPC). The flowability, compressive strength, flexural strength, hydration, porosity, pore size distribution, and microstructure of UHPC with different contents of supplementary materials (silica fume, fly ash, and ground granulated blast furnace slag) were assessed. The test results showed that the compressive strength of EUHPC under steam curing was increased considerably compared to that under standard curing, while the flexural strength was mildly decreased. The steam curing could decrease the porosity of EUHPC, which ranged between 7% and 9% for standard curing, and between 3.5% and 5% for steam curing. The aperture of EUHPC was below 20 nm, mainly located in the range of 10 nm to 20 nm under standard curing, while it was less than 10 nm for steam curing. C–S–H gel was produced under steam curing, while unhydrated fly ash, mineral powder, and Ca(OH)2 crystal were observed in the amorphous C–S–H gel. The microstructure of EUHPC under steam curing was denser than that under standard curing, and the interfacial transition zones under both curing regimes were compact.

Keywords

• ecological ultrahigh-performance concrete (EUHPC)
• curing regime
• mechanical strength
• hydration
• microstructure