Minimum Curing Time Prediction of Early Age Concrete to Prevent Frost Damage

The purpose of this study is to propose a method to predict the minimum curing time of early age concrete required to prevent frost damage. Tests were performed to examine major factors, which affect the compressive strength of concrete frozen at early ages and investigate the source of frost damage at early age concrete. The results from the tests showed that the loss rate of compressive strength decreases as the beginning time of frost damage was delayed and water-cement ratio was lower. In addition, the test results also showed that concrete made with type III cement was less susceptible to frost damage than concrete made with ordinary Portland cement and frost damage occurred through the formation of ice lenses. When early age concrete is being damaged by frozen, a phase transition into ice of free water presented at the capillary pores of the concrete gives a reason for the decrease of compressive strength. Accordingly, the frost resistance of fresh concrete can be determined based on the saturation degree of the capillary pores. The method to predict the minimum curing time was suggested using the concept of critical saturation degree of the capillary pores.

동해방지를 위한 초기재령 콘크리트의 최소 양생 시간 예측

이 연구의 목적은 초기재령 콘크리트가 동해를 입을 경우가 예상될 때, 동해저항성을 확보하는데 필요한 최소 양생 시간의 예측법을 제안하는 것이다. 먼저, 실험을 통하여 동해시점이 지연될수록, w/c가 낮을수록, 그리고 1종 시멘트보다 3종 시멘트를 사용한 콘크리트가 동해에 의한 압축강도 감소율이 낮으며 동해는 얼음결정의 형성과 성장을 통해 발생됨을 확인하였다. 초기재령 콘크리트가 동해를 입었을 경우, 콘크리트 내에 존재하는 모세공극의 자유수가 얼음으로 상변화를 일으키면서 압축강도의 감소를 유발하므로 동해저항성은 모세공극의 포화도에 따라 결정된다. 따라서, 모세공극의 임계포화도 개념을 근거로 초기동해의 방지를 위한 최소양생시간의 예측법을 제안하였다.