Comparative Study on Mechanical Properties of Bio Self Cured Concrete and Conventionally Cured Concrete

Abstract

This paper focusing on the usage of biomaterials as self-curing agents in concrete. Biomaterials like Calatropis Gigantea (CG) and Spinacea Oleracia (SO) are found to be equivalent to the existing chemical admixture Polyethylene Glycol since they have specific characteristic of holding water and releasing whenever it is needed as internal reservoirs like self-curing agents and their microstructural properties are resembling Polyethylene Glycol. From the previous studies, it was found that these biomaterials of a small quantity of about less than 1% by weight of cement performing better than PEG and found to be cost effective and no need of water curing of the day one of concreting and achieving the required strength 9-13. This paper discusses on the strength development of self-cured concrete using above said biomaterials at the age of 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 56 days without water curing and compared with the performance of conventional water cured concrete specimen. Also splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of both concrete at 28 days were determined and compared. From the results, it is found that Spinacea Oleracia is performing better than CG and PEG.