Building and Environment 35 (2000) 415423

www.elsevier.com/locate/buildenv

The inuence of high temperature curing on the compressive,

tensile and exural strength of pulverized fuel ash concrete
R.V. Balendran*, W.H. Martin-Buades
Building and Construction Department, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Received 20 October 1998; received in revised form 20 January 1999; accepted 29 April 1999

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a series of experiments conducted to investigate the eect of high temperature curing on the
compressive strength, tensile splitting strength and exural strength of concrete made with Hong Kong pulverized fuel ash
(PFA). The curing temperatures adopted were 27, 34, 42 and 508C. The experimental results suggest that high temperature cured
PFA concrete normally has a greater compressive strength, tensile splitting strength and exural strength than similarly cured
ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete. The results obtained further suggest that beyond 28 d age and at high curing
temperatures, the dierence in strength properties between them is signicant. # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction been conducted at temperatures below 258C that is

In the temperate regions of the world, the eect on
concrete of partially replacing its cement content by
pulverized fuel ash (PFA) has been extensively
researched and, in general, has led to the production
of concrete having better strength properties in those
regions. However, in the tropical regions of the world,
the eect of this replacement on the strength properties
of concrete has not been so thoroughly investigated.
According to Balendran and Pang [1], the partial
replacement of OPC by PFA has helped to enhance
the quality of both the fresh and hardened concrete in
terms of:
. Lower heat of hydration. This extends the workabil-
ity period, lowers the temperature rise during curing,
and reduces thermal stresses;
. Lower water demand. This lowers the possibility of
bleeding and reduces drying shrinkage;
. Greater medium term strength;
. Reduction in creep; and
. Increased long term elastic modulus;
The vast majority of research on PFA concrete has
at what is considered as normal curing temperatures in
the temperate regions of the world. Hence, the ndings
of these research projects may not be completely rel-
evant to PFA concrete subject to the much higher
ambient and curing temperatures of the tropical
regions of the world. This paper concentrates on the
eect of high temperature curing on the compressive
strength, tensile strength and exural strength of PFA
concrete and compares the results obtained with those
for similarly cured OPC concrete. The curing tempera-
tures adopted were 27, 34, 42 and 508C.
Halstead [2] reported that if the heat of hydration
generated by an OPC concrete with water:cement
(W:C) ratio of 0.5 and an aggregate/cement (A/C)
ratio of 6.0 during curing is wholly retained, it would
raise the temperature of the OPC concrete by approxi-
mately 438C. Based on this nding, in the subtropical
regions of the world where the ambient temperature is
frequently above 308C, the temperature inside the
cured concrete may exceed 508C.
2. Concrete cured at elevated temperatures

* Corresponding author. Bouge [3] noticed that, for the normal range of Port-

0360-1323/00/$ - see front matter # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 3 6 0 - 1 3 2 3 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 3 1 - 1
416 R.V. Balendran, W.H. Martin-Buades / Building and Environment 35 (2000) 415423
land cements, one half of the heat of hydration is
released between 1 and 3 d after casting, around three
quarters of it is released during the rst 7 d after cast-
ing, and approximately 87% of it is released during
the rst 6 months after casting. In fact, the heat of hy-
dration released by a cement depends on its chemical
composition and is approximately equal to the sum of
the heats of hydration of the individual pure com-
pounds when their respective proportions by mass are
hydrated separately [4]. The compounds tricalcium alu-
minate (C3A) and tricalcium silicate (C3S) are known
to contribute most of the heat of hydration with C3A
contributing most of the early age heat of hydration.
It hence follows that by reducing the proportion of
C3A and C3S in the Portland cement, its heat of hy-
dration can be reduced. A method of achieving this is
by partially replacing the Portland cement with a poz-
zolana for example, a PFA, with a low calcium
oxide (CaO) content.
Abbasi and Al-Tayyib [5] found that OPC concretes
cured at high temperatures necessitate a higher initial
volume of mixing water in order to achieve a required
workability and this leads to a higher W:C ratio and
consequently lower medium term compressive strength.
They also found that, for OPC concretes cured in hot-
dry environments, the required ultimate compressive
strength can be achieved but their modulus of rupture,
splitting tensile strength and exural strength were
reduced to some extent. In addition, they also found
that at high temperatures, the rate at which OPC con-
cretes loose their workability is increased and, in order
to overcome this, they require additional mixing water.
Bamforth [6] observed that if ordinary Portland
cement is partially replaced by PFA, the total mixing
water demand of the resulting concrete is reduced.
Hence, it can be said that PFA is a suitable replace-
ment for ordinary Portland cement when the resulting
concrete is to be cured at high temperature.
There are diering viewpoints in relation to the
eect of high curing temperature on the medium term
compressive strength development of concrete [7].
Mustafa and Yusof [8] suggested that the medium
term compressive strength of a concrete cured at high
temperature will not be adversely aected, provided
the ambient relative humidity during curing is high
enough.
A PFA concrete of similar compressive strength as
an OPC concrete requires less water and is generally
considered to have a better pumpability, and to exhibit
a reduced tendency to segregate and bleed. However,
the addition of PFA to concrete prolongs its workabil-
ity period and delays its setting time. This delay in set-
ting time increases the risk of the formation of plastic
shrinkage cracks as suggested by Ravina [9], Harrison
[10] and Concrete Working Party [11].
PFA concrete has a longer setting time than OPC
concrete, due to the slow initial reaction process of the
PFA. Under normal curing conditions, the early stage
reaction of the PFA is rather low and because of this
normally cured OPC concretes of all types can be
expected to have a better early compressive strength
than comparable PFA concretes. The major drawback
of using PFA as partial replacement of cement is the
reduction it causes in the rate of early compressive
strength development. High early compressive strength
is important for concrete as it facilitates the early
removal and re-use of formwork, thus helping to
reduce the overall cost of concreting.
3. Strength properties
OPC concrete cured at elevated temperatures (above
308C) has been shown to possess lower early and med-
ium term strength properties than OPC concrete cured
at 208C [7,12]. This reduction is probably due to crack-
ing caused by thermal stresses. Mustafa [8], nonethe-
less, suggested that because of the reduction in the
macro porosity of the concrete mass caused by matur-
ity, a concrete subject to both a high curing tempera-
ture and ambient humidity should not experience any
adverse eects on the medium term strength proper-
ties.
Experimental work carried out by Alshami [13]
showed that, at ambient temperatures of 20, 35 and
458C, the partial replacement of cement by PFA
improved the compressive strength development of
concrete. It also showed that, due to a reduction in the
rate of heat of hydration, both the peak curing tem-
perature and the time required to reach it decreased.
These latter ndings means that the use of PFA con-
crete oers the possibility of quicker heat dissipation
and hence reduced risk of thermal cracking.
4. Materials, mixing and testing conditions
4.1. Materials
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) [14], pulverized
fuel ash (PFA) [15], 20 mm and 10 mm (maximum
size) coarse granite aggregates, and crushed stone nes
were used in the making of the test specimens. All ma-
terials used were from one single delivery and source.
The chemical composition of the OPC and PFA has
been provided by the suppliers concerned and is given
in Table 1.
4.2. Mixing and testing conditions
The concrete for the test specimens was mixed in an
air-conditioned laboratory with an ambient tempera-
 R.V. Balendran, W.H. Martin-Buades / Building and Environment 35 (2000) 415423 417

Table 1
Chemical compositions of OPC and PFA

OPC (China Cement Company, Hong Kong) PFA (China Light & Power, Hong Kong)

Fineness (m3/kg) 320 < 12.5a

Silicon dioxide (SiO2) (%) 21.1 54
Iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3) (%) 3.1 4.8
Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) (%) 5.9 29
Calcium oxide (CaO) (%) 64.6 4.8
Magnesium oxide (MgO) (%) 1.0 1.0
Sulfur (SO3) (%) 2.6 0.6
Sodium (as Na2O) (%) 0.6 0.4
Titanium (TiO2) (%) 1.4
Potassium (K2O) (%) 0.9
Loss on ignition (%) 0.9 5.7
Insoluble (%) 0.004
Chloride content (%) 0.2
Free lime (%) 1.0
Lime Saturation Factor 0.92
Tricalcium Aluminate (C3A) (%) 0.2
Tricalcium Silicate (C3S) (%) 51.1

a
Retained on 40 mm sieve (% by weight).

ture of approximately 238C and a relative humidity of
80%. The mixing was carried out using a pan mixer.
The OPC and PFA concretes were designed to have
similar 28-day compressive strength and also similar
workability. The W:C ratio of the OPC concrete was
0.48 and the W:(C+F) ratio of the PFA concrete was
0.45. Daratard 17, an initial setting retarder, was
added to both mixes in order to simulate the pro-
duction and delivery of ready-mix concrete a very
common method of supplying concrete in Hong Kong.
The mix details of the OPC concrete and that of the
PFA concrete are shown in Table 2.
The test specimens were demoulded one day after
casting and then water-cured at their designated high
temperature until the age of 7 d. After 7 d, they were
transferred to curing tanks with water at 278C and left
there until they reached their test age.
The designated temperatures were 27, 34, 42 and
508C. The results of tests carried out on test specimens
cured at 278C were used for control purposes as this is
the standard curing temperature in Hong Kong [16]
and in other tropical countries.
Compressive strength, tensile splitting strength and
exural strength tests were performed in accordance
with the appropriate standard specications on the test
specimens at dierent ages after casting.
5. Strength tests

5.1. Compressive strength

100 mm concrete cubes were tested for compressive

Table 2 strength in accordance with BS 1881: Part 116: 1983
Mix details [17] at 2, 7, 14, 28, 56 and 91 d after casting. The
cubes were subjected to water-curing at a temperature
OPC Concrete PFA Concrete
(kg/m3) (kg/m3) of either 27, 34, 42 or 508C for either 2 or 7 d as
appropriate. In addition, all 100 mm concrete cubes
Cement 450 360 tested at 14, 28, 56, and 91 d were water-cured at 278C
PFA 120 after 7 d until tested.
20 mm aggregate 650 700
10 mm aggregate 515 475
Fines 520 455 5.2. Tensile splitting strength
Water 215 215
Admixture (Daratard 17) 900 ml 900 ml 100 mm ;  200 mm concrete cylinders were tested
Water cementitious ratioa 0.48 0.45
for tensile splitting strength in accordance with BS
a
W:C and W:(C+F) ratios do not include absorption by aggre- 1881: Part 117: 1983 [18] at 7, 28 and 56 d after cast-
gates. ing. The cubes were subjected to water-curing at a
418 R.V. Balendran, W.H. Martin-Buades / Building and Environment 35 (2000) 415423
temperature of either 27, 34, 42 or 508C for 7 d and
thereafter at 278C until tested.
5.3. Flexural strength
100  100  500 mm concrete beams were tested for
exural strength in accordance with BS 1881: Part 118:
1983 [19] at 7, 28, 56 and 91 d after casting The cubes
were subjected to water-curing at a temperature of
either 27, 34, 42 or 508C for 7 d and thereafter at 278C
until tested.
6. Results and discussion
6.1. Early compressive strength
Fig. 1 shows plots of the compressive strength
results obtained for the OPC and PFA concrete cubes
tested at 2, 7, 14, and 28 d. According to these plots:
. All PFA and OPC concrete cubes tested at 2 and 7 d
and which had been cured at either 34, 42, or 508C
had a higher early compressive strength than those
cured for the same period of time at the standard
curing temperature of 278C;
. Two days after casting, the early compressive
Fig. 1. Early compressive strength of OPC and PFA concrete cured at dierent elevated temperatures.
strength of the PFA concrete cubes tested was
always lower than that of the corresponding OPC
ones. These results conrm the already well estab-
lished fact that the partial replacement of OPC by
PFA slows down the early compressive strength
development of the resulting concrete;
. After 7 d of curing at 428C, the early compressive
strength of the PFA concrete cubes became higher
than that of the corresponding OPC ones. Hence
the results obtained indicate that the higher the cur-
ing temperature, the earlier PFA concrete can attain
the compressive strength of OPC concrete cured at
the same temperature;
. The rate of gain of early compressive strength of
PFA concrete was always higher than that of the
corresponding OPC concrete cubes. These results in-
dicate that, in the case of high temperature curing,
the partial replacement of OPC by PFA generally
enhances the early compressive strength and its rate
of gain of the resulting concrete;
. When cured at temperatures of either 42 or 508C,
the OPC concrete cubes failed even to achieve the
28-day compressive strength at the standard curing
temperature of 278C.
. According to these results, very high temperature
 R.V. Balendran, W.H. Martin-Buades / Building and Environment 35 (2000) 415423 419

Fig. 2. Medium term compressive strength of OPC and PFA concrete at dierent elevated temperatures.

curing adversely aects the early compressive cylinders when the curing temperature was either 27,
strength of OPC concrete. 42 or 508C. However, at 348C curing temperature,
the early tensile splitting strength of the OPC con-
crete cylinders tested was lower than that of the cor-
responding PFA concrete ones;
6.2. Medium term compressive strength
. At 7 d, the early tensile splitting strength of the
OPC concrete cylinders tested increased noticeably
Fig. 2 shows plots of the compressive strength
with curing temperature. However, at 28 d, the early
results obtained for the OPC and PFA concrete cubes
tensile splitting strength of the OPC concrete cylin-
tested at 56 and 91 d. According to these plots, imma-
ders tested increased overall only slightly with tem-
terial of curing temperature, the medium term com-
perature and, at 358C curing temperature, its value
pressive strength of the PFA concrete cubes tested at
was actually lower than that for the standard curing
56 and 91 d tested was always higher than that of the
temperature of 278C;
corresponding OPC concrete cubes on average, ap-
. The early tensile splitting strength of the PFA con-
proximately 15% higher. These results are similar to
crete cylinders tested at 7 and 28 d increased to a
those obtained by Alshami [13]. A possible explanation
peak value and then declined with increasing tem-
for the increased medium term compressive strength of
perature. For those tested at 7 d, the peak value
PFA concrete could be the reduction of C3A and the
occurred when the curing temperature was 428C and
deceleration of rate of hydration permitting the for-
the decline in value thereafter was rather slight. For
mation of more dense hydrates of strength-contribut-
those tested at 28 d, the peak value occurred when
ing dicalcium silicate (C2S) to form [20].
the curing temperature was 358C and the decline in
value thereafter was noticeable. However, for both
6.3. Early tensile splitting strength
test ages, the PFA concrete cylinders cured at elev-
ated temperatures had always higher early tensile
Fig. 3 shows plots of the tensile splitting strength
splitting strengths than those cured at the standard
results obtained for the concrete cylinders tested at 7
curing temperature of 278C.
and 28 d. According to these plots:
. Irrespective of curing temperature, all OPC concrete
cylinders tested at 7 d had a higher early tensile
splitting strength than the corresponding PFA con- 6.4. Medium term tensile splitting strength
crete ones;
. At 28 d, the early tensile splitting strength of the Fig. 4 shows plots of the tensile splitting strength
OPC concrete cylinders tested was either higher or results obtained for the concrete cylinders tested at
equal to that of the corresponding PFA concrete 56 d. According to these plots:
420 R.V. Balendran, W.H. Martin-Buades / Building and Environment 35 (2000) 415423

Fig. 3. Early tensile strength of OPC and PFA concrete cured at various elevated temperatures.

. The medium term tensile splitting strength of the crete cylinders tested which had been cured at either
OPC concrete cylinders tested did not increase as 34, 42 or 508C was always lower than the value for
the curing temperature rose. In actual fact, the med- ones cured at the standard temperature of 278C;
ium term tensile splitting strength of the OPC con- . At 348C curing temperature, the PFA concrete cylin-

Fig. 4. 56-day tensile strength of OPC and PFA concrete cured at dierent elevated temperatures.
 R.V. Balendran, W.H. Martin-Buades / Building and Environment 35 (2000) 415423 421

Fig. 5. Early exural strength of OPC and PFA concrete cured at various elevated temperatures.

ders tested experienced a signicant increase in their
medium term tensile splitting strength. However, at
either 42 and 508C curing temperature, the medium
term tensile splitting strength of the PFA concrete
cylinders tested was lower than that of the ones
tested at the standard curing temperature of 278C.
From the results obtained it is not possible to see
any obvious trend regarding the medium term ten-
sile splitting strength of PFA concrete cured at elev-
ated temperatures.
. If the results shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are compared,
it can be concluded that the tensile splitting strength
at 56 d is not signicantly higher than that at 28 d
for either the OPC or PFA concrete.
6.5. Early exural strength
Fig. 5 shows plots of the exural strength results
obtained for the concrete beams tested at 7 and 28 d.
According to these plots:
. The exural strength of the PFA concrete beams
tested at 7 d increased uniformly with curing tem-
perature and, at both 42 and 568C curing tempera-
ture, was higher than that of the corresponding

Fig. 6. Medium term exural strength of OPC and PFA concrete cured at dierent elevated temperatures.
422 R.V. Balendran, W.H. Martin-Buades / Building and Environment 35 (2000) 415423
OPC ones. On the other hand, the exural strength
of the OPC concrete beams tested at the same age
remained substantially the same irrespective of cur-
ing temperature except for those cured at 348C.
The beams cured at 348C experienced an increase
of approximately 10% in exural strength;
. The exural strength of the PFA concrete beams
tested at 28 d increased with curing temperature
and, at the elevated curing temperatures, was always
greater than that of the corresponding OPC ones. In
actual fact, at the elevated curing temperatures, the
exural strength of the latter at 28 d was always
lower than that at the standard curing temperature
of 278C.
6.6. Medium term exural strengths
Fig. 6 shows plots of the exural strength results
obtained for the concrete beams tested at 56 and 91 d.
According to these plots:
. The medium term exural strength of the OPC con-
crete beams tested remained substantially the same
immaterial of curing temperature and test age. This
nding indicates that curing temperature has little
eect on the medium term exural strength of an
OPC concrete;
. At the standard curing temperature of 278C, the
medium term exural strength of the PFA concrete
beams tested at 91 d was markedly higher than that
of the ones tested at 56 d. At 348C curing tempera-
ture, however, the position was reversed, with the
91-day medium term exural strength not only
lower than the 56-day one but also lower than its
own value at the standard curing temperature of
278C. Beyond 348C curing temperature, the medium
term exural strength of the PFA concrete beams
tested became similar immaterial of test age. It is,
however, not possible to detect from the results
obtained, any obvious overall trend as to how the
exural strength of a PFA concrete is aected by
high curing temperatures;
. At all the curing temperatures and test ages, the
exural strength of the PFA concrete beams tested
was always greater than that of the corresponding
OPC concrete ones. This nding indicates that a
PFA concrete cured at high temperatures generally
possess a greater exural strength than a compar-
able OPC concrete cured under similar conditions.
7. Concluding remarks
Curing OPC concrete at elevated temperatures can
help to improve the early strength development of the
concrete. The partial replacement of the OPC by PFA
further improves its early compressive and tensile split-
ting strength development and also has a benecial
eect on its exural strength.
Generally, the higher the curing temperature, the
better the medium term compressive strength, tensile
splitting strength and exural strength of PFA con-
crete. OPC concrete did not behave in a similar man-
ner when cured at high temperatures. Its reduced
performance under high temperature curing may be
due to thermal stresses generated by its high heat of
hydration. The PFA concrete, due to its reduced heat
of hydration, has a lower peak temperature and rate
of temperature rise and therefore avoids such thermal
stresses.
The improved performance of the PFA concrete at
the later ages under high temperature curing may be
due to delayed pozzolanic reaction.
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