Pulling cables and stripping forms as soon as possible leads to project
acceleration. Curing times are usually cut dramatically, especially in the winter.
Improve site safety by not stripping forms or stressing cables
too soon.
Improve concrete quality by learning the temperature history of
the concrete. Compensate for changes in field conditions on-the-fly.
Save money by assessing cold weather protection to ensure
sufficient temperatures for curing without wasted heating.
Allows in-place strength determination of critical areas of a
structure.
Non-destructive, inexpensive and cost-effective.
In-place maturity testing and cylinder testing show virtually identical
strengths because of isothermic curing conditions.
Allows far fewer cylinders to be taken, saving time, money, space and labor.
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This section is Under Construction, we apologize for any
inconvenience |
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Experts agree that ideally concrete should cure for 7 days at
temperatures between 65-85°F under 100% humidity. However, even the most conscientious
builder knows this is simply not possible in most cases. What can maturity testing do to
help improve concrete quality in non-ideal climates?
Because maturity testing also tracks temperature history during the critical early-age
curing process, it is often possible to take valuable steps to improve the cure before
problems develop. For example, heat can be applied when it is shown that the concrete is
getting too cold, thus ensuring completion of the hydration reaction needed for proper
strength gain. Conversely, it has been proven that adding too much heat is detrimental to
long-term durability and can lead to lower ultimate strengths, so taking steps to prevent
overheating is also beneficial. Plus, if the contractor can avoid adding heat when
it’s not necessary, the savings add up very quickly.
Tips:
Cover with an insulating blanket as soon as
possible after placement to retain heat.
Use warm or hot mixing water and aggregates.
Pre-warm the ground or forms. Remove ANY frost
before beginning placement operations.
Use a maturity meter to track temperatures and
strength gain.
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COLD WEATHER
APPLICATIONS AND BENEFITS:
Do you need to accelerate the curing process in the dead of winter? Using maturity testing
will give you a clear idea of just how much heat you will need to add to obtain the needed
strength in the shortest time possible.
Concrete gives off heat as it cures, and often a satisfactory cure can be obtained merely
by covering the slab or wall with an insulating blanket. Also, covering keeps needed
moisture in - particularly helpful in cold, dry climates.
In many cases, contractors can save a tremendous amount of money simply by turning off
external heaters once the maturity system shows it’s not necessary. One contractor
reported saving more than $5000 in one weekend because he knew the structure had obtained
sufficient strength.
Maturity testing gives important temperature information to help ensure optimal curing. |
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Experts agree that ideally concrete should cure for 7 days at
temperatures between 65-85°F under 100% humidity. However, even the most conscientious
builder knows this is simply not possible in most cases. What can maturity testing do to
help improve concrete quality in non-ideal climates?
Because maturity testing also tracks temperature history during the critical early-age
curing process, it is often possible to take valuable steps to improve the cure before
problems develop. For example, heat can be applied when it is shown that the concrete is
getting too cold, thus ensuring completion of the hydration reaction needed for proper
strength gain. Conversely, it has been proven that adding too much heat is detrimental to
long-term durability and can lead to lower ultimate strengths, so taking steps to prevent
overheating is also beneficial. Plus, if the contractor can avoid adding heat when
it’s not necessary, the savings add up very quickly.
Tips:
Use ice in place of mixing water.
Keep covered with wet burlap or plastic after
initial set.
Use a maturity meter to track temperatures and
strength gain.
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HOT WEATHER
APPLICATIONS AND BENEFITS:
Some mixes can tolerate heat better than others. With maturity testing, one can monitor
the performance of concrete cured at high temperatures to ensure sufficient strength. For
example, some high-early strength mixes cure very well at high temperatures (sometimes as
high as 170° F!).
Curing the initial lab cylinders at high temperature (as tracked by the maturity meter)
will give a clear picture of the actual performance under high temperature field
conditions, and can identify potential problems before the job starts. |
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