Investigation into Pavement Curing Materials, Application Techniques, adn Assessment Methods

Different types of curing compounds were applied to lab and field concrete at different times after casting. Two application methods, single and double layer applications, were employed. Concrete properties, such as electrical conductivity, moisture content, sorptivity, degree of hydration, strength, and permeability were evaluated, and the results were employed for assessment of the curing effectiveness. The investigation indicated that properties of the concrete in the near-surface-area of a pavement without any curing compound were considerably different from those of the internal concrete. Proper curing can significantly increase the moisture content and reduce the sorptivity of the concrete in the near-surfacearea, thus providing the pavement with uniform concrete properties throughout depth. For given concrete materials and mix proportion, water retention ability of a curing material can be estimated by monitoring conductivity of the surface concrete. Sorptivity test for lab specimens appeared a good assessment method for curing effectiveness, and the measurement captured the subtle changes caused by different curing materials and application techniques. These research results established a baseline for rational assessment of curing compound effectiveness in both lab and field concrete.