Compressive Strength Performance of Alkali Activated Concretes under Different Curing Conditions

This study investigated the influence of different curing conditions on the compressive strength (CS) of the different alkali activated concrete (AAC) specimens at the ages of 2, 28, and 90 days for the structural utilization and standardization process of AAC instead of OPC concrete. For this aim, 100% slag (S100), 75% slag and 25% fly ash (S75FA25), and 50% slag and 50% fly ash based (S50FA50) AAC specimens were produced. Based on the oven-curing (O), water-curing (W), and ambient-curing (A) methods, the influence of 2O for 2 days, 26A2O, 2O26A, 28A, 28W, 26W2O, and 2O26W for 28 days, and 88A2O, 2O88A, 90A, 88W2O, 2O88W, 90W for 90 days on the CS of the AAC were examined in details. In addition, the influence of delayed oven-curing conditions on CS development was also investigated. The results indicated that curing conditions significantly affected on the CS and the water-curing condition could provide a better CS for those of AAC at 90 days. Although, the oven-curing enhanced CS of the S100 specimens at initial ages (first oven-curing applied), delayed oven-curing (oven-curing applied later) was found significant for S75FA25 and S50FA50 specimens. The delayed oven-curing affected more on the CS of the AAC when fly ash content increased. The most of AAC specimens with oven-curing had significantly enhanced the CS at 28 days, but S50FA50 at the age of 90 days decreased. Different curing regimes were proposed for the superior compressive strength values for each AAC specimens at the ages of 28 and 90 days.