STRENGTHENING OF CONCRETE HARDENING USING INFRARED RADIATION

Introduction. Because infrared radiation is becoming more popular and has certain benefits over other hardening techniques, the goal of this research is to show how infrared radiation (IR) may be utilised to enhance concrete hardening. Materials and methods. ACI code and Russian standard were used as the guidelines for designing the concrete mix, as well as Russian standards. To make concrete, the following materials were used: Portland cement (Type 1), quarry construction sand with a Mgs = 2.05 grain size modulus, granite crushed stone fraction sizes of 5-10 mm and 10-20 mm, and water for mixing. Table 1 shows the concrete mix's composition in details. It can be seen in Figure 1 that the sample is being prepared in accordance with the requirements of ACI code. Results. Control samples were hardened for 28 days in a standard hardening facility without thermal processing using infrared radiation. The axial compression strength of the samples after 28 days was found to be 32.25 MPa on average after testing control samples. Conclusions. To avoid crack development, IR radiation should be delivered in a homogenous layer to the whole surface of the concrete, and the maximum curing temperature should not exceed 70 °C. To monitor the temperature of the concrete, use a thermometer. If the temperature becomes too high, turn off the heat and let the concrete cool. A heat-resistant film stretched over a 15 mm thick frame was used to create conditions that prevented moisture loss by the concrete while increasing strength.