Title:
Maturity Approach Applied to Concrete by Means of Vicat Tests
Author(s):
Alvaro García, Daniel Castro-Fresno, and Juan Antonio Polanco
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
105
Issue:
5
Appears on pages(s):
445-450
Keywords:
activation energy; cement paste; early age properties; maturity method; setting time; temperature; Vicat test
DOI:
10.14359/19973
Date:
9/1/2008
Abstract:
Better knowledge of the time of initial setting of concrete would aid contractors in planning the times of texturing and finishing a pavement. With this aim in mind, this paper presents a straightforward method for evaluating the temperature influence on setting time. This was accomplished using the Freiesleben-Hansen and Pedersen maturity function. To determine the apparent activation energy of the cement for use in this equation, a series of Vicat tests were carried out at different temperatures. To determine whether the activation energy found was correct, it was applied to the times to attain a specific penetration resistance of concrete made at different temperatures with various water-cement ratios (w/c) and three different types of cement. When equivalent ages of the setting times of concrete were calculated, linear relationships were obtained between w/c and setting time at the reference temperature. It was concluded that the apparent activation energy obtained by this method could be used to evaluate the temperature influence on setting times of concrete.