Title:
Longterm Strength Development of Silica Fume Concrete
Author(s):
G. G. Carette and V. M. Malhotra
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
132
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
1017-1044
Keywords:
carbonation; compressive strength; curing; flexural strength; microstructure; portland cement; silica fume; superplasticizers; Materials Research
DOI:
10.14359/2383
Date:
5/1/1992
Abstract:
Presents results of an investigation dealing with the long-term strength of silica fume concrete. Three series of concrete mixtures with and without silica fume were made with water-cementitious ratios from 0.25 to 0.40. The replacement level of portland cement with silica fume was kept constant at 10 percent. Test specimens were cast from each mixture to determine the compressive and flexural strengths of concrete at up to 3.5 years under both water-curing and air-drying conditions. The test specimens were also subjected to the determination of microstructure, carbonation, and weight changes with time. It is concluded that, under water-curing conditions, both the control and silica-fume concretes show gain in strength with age, with both concretes reaching similar strength levels after 3.5 years. However, continuous air-curing adversely affects the long-term compressive strength development of both types of concrete. This effect is considerably more marked for silica-fume concrete than for the control concrete, especially at w/c + sf of 0.30 and 0.40.