The Influence of Steam Curing on Early-Age Compressive Strength of Pozzolanic Mortars

This study investigates the effect of steam curing on the early strength of mortars that include mineral admixtures. Instead of CEM I 42.5 R cement, 0, 10, 20 and 30 % of fly ash or 0, 5, 10 and 15 % of silica fume was used in the mortars. In the composition of the mortars, the fine aggregate/binder/water ratios were determined as, respectively, 3/1/0.5 by mass. 40/40/160-mm prismatic specimens were cast and divided into two groups. The first group of specimens was cured in water at 20 ∘ C for 1, 2, 3 and 28 days. The second groups of specimens were exposed to 24-, 48- and 72-h curing at procedure temperatures of 35, 50, 65, 80 and 100 ∘ C . Following the curing, compressive strength of mortar specimens was determined. In this study, the accelerating curing temperature and time for the early strength of the mortars containing fly ash/silica fume were tried to determine according to compressive strength test results.