Strength Comparison of OPC, PPC and PSC for

Continuous and Intermittent Curing

Abhismit Ashok Bhamare1,Vihar Vijay Waghmare3, Dhanashree Babala

Machhi4, Mahesh Shambhuling Fulari5, Meghna Patankar6
1,2,3,4,5
UG Students of G.S. Moze College of Engineering, Savitribai Phule Pune University, (India)
6
Assistant professor of Civil Department, Savitribai Phule Pune University, (India)

ABSTRACT
Compressive strength Comparison between OPC, PPC and PSC for intermittent curing and continuous curing
is the main area of interest of this paper. OPC, PPC and PSC concrete cubes are casted as per design mix of
characteristics strength M25. These cubes are tested after 7 days and 28 days. In intermittent curing watering is
done once in a day while for continuous curing cubes were submerged in water for all time. By observing the
result following conclusions were made. i) OPC majorly affected by intermittent curing. ii) PPC and PSC is
least affected by intermittent curing as compared to OPC. iii) PSC and PPC gives nearly similar compressive
strength after 28 days. Finally we come to know that we can prefer PPC and PSC cement where there is less
availability of water or for OPC mix design should be on safer side to overcome the reduced strength in
intermittent curing condition. Cubes are exposed to direct sunrays in day time which contributes more
reduction in strength.
Keywords compressive strength, continuous, Curing, Intermittent, OPC, PPC, PSC

I. INTRODUCTION
Compressive strength of concrete is highly dependable on the various conditions that occurs while attaining its
characteristic strength. These are like quality of water, curing, temperature, and compaction factor etc. but for
actual working site condition, the most affecting factor is curing condition. Concrete cubes without curing gives
only fifty percent strength than cured continuously [1]. But now a days due to various factors like less
availability of water in many countries or in season like summer, construction sites faces the problem of less
availability of water. This problem is increasing day by day. So to overcome this problem intermittent curing is
useful. But intermittent curing should be trice in day. To cure the concrete cubes thrice in a day require more
water as well as workmanship. Many countries facing water scarcity like India, generally watering is done only
once in a day. That affect the strength. We can achieve the required strength by preventing the moisture loss by
providing protective cover or water holding layer such as jute bag. But it requires more workmanship to tie and
remove the cover and also investments. Life of such measures is also less. So most of the construction site don’t
go for this cover.

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All this contributes in strength reduction. It is very important to find out this difference to check whether
required strength is achieved or not. Because construction is one time activity and it requires much investment.
Human lives are associated with buildings or concrete structure so it’s utility, durability, serviceability must
ensure and hence compressive strength must check whether it is attaining the required strength or not and how
much difference is arise due to intermittent curing in compressive strength
Previously Ordinary Portland cement concrete cubes were tested for intermittent curing from watering once in a
day to thrice in a day in comparison with continuous curing[2]. This paper is contributing to checking the effect
of intermittent curing on compressive strength of Portland pozzolana cement and Portland slag cement with
ordinary Portland cement. PPC and PSC also gaining the popularity in construction industry so it is mandatory
to check this effect. Objective of this research paper is to check whether required compressive strength is
achieved or not in intermittent curing and extent of difference and Find out the remedial measure keeping
economy and ease of working in consideration.

II. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

2.1 Materials
2.1.1 Cement
53 grade cement is used for this project work. Birla super cement, Ultratech Cement, and Rajashree Cement is
used as OPC, PPC and PSC respectively. Other specifications are mentioned in table no. 1
2.1.2 Water
Clear water available in laboratory with pH ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 is used.
2.1.3 Aggregate
Course aggregate and fine aggregate is used specifications are mentioned in table no. 1
Table No. 1 Material Specification

OPC PPC PSC C.A. F.A.

Composi 30% 48% 20m 2mm
tion fly GGB m Crush
ash S 10m sand
m
Specific 3.15 2.65 2.9 2.95 2.8
gravity
Bulk 1440 115 1250 1557 1589
density 0
3
(Kg/m )

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2.2 Apparatus
Standard Cube Mould, Standard tamping Rod, Rotating Drum Mixer, Curing Tank, Weigh balance, Universal
testing machine, Trowel, lubricating oil, Measuring cylinder.

2.3 Methodology
Various Research paper about proposed project work were studied.
Mix proportion was calculated by IS code method [3] [4] by constant w/c ratio 0.45 for all three type of cement.
Three cubes for 7 days & three for 28 day continuous curing and three cubes for 7 days & three for 28 days
intermittent curing like that 12 standard size cubes 15 cm × 15cm × 15cm cubes were casted for each type of
cement OPC, PPC, PSC. So total 36 cubes were casted.
Mixing was done for 4 minute and mould is filled in three layer each 35 blows by standard temping rod[1].
18 cubes are cured once in a day and remaining 18 cubes completely submerged in water.
Curing is done by the water having constant pH value to avoid effect of different pH value on strength of
concrete [5].
Temperature of water and surrounding is kept same 25˚c ± 2˚c to avoid effect of temperature on strength of
concrete while casting [6] [7].
Cubes were tested on universal testing machine having capacity 100 tonne on 7 th and 28th day

III. RESULT

Table no. 2 Average compressive strength in MPa for 7 days

Type 7 days average strength of three cubes
(MPa)
Intermittent Continuous difference
curing curing
OPC 15.45 17.93 2.48
PPC 13.42 14.6 1.18
PSC 13.70 15.25 1.55

Table no. 3 Average compressive strength in MPa for 28 days

28 days average strength of three cubes (MPa)
Intermittent Continuous Difference
curing curing
23.31 27.48 4.17
23.59 25.72 2.13
23.63 26.03 2.4

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IV. CONCLUSIONS
• OPC majorly affected by intermittent curing and the difference is 2.48 and 4.17 MPa after 7 days and 28 days
respectively.
• PPC and PSC is least affected by intermittent curing. Difference is less than 2 MPa after 7 days and less than
2.5 MPa after 28 days.
• PSC and PPC give nearly similar compressive strength after 28 days.
• OPC gives more strength than PPC and PSC after 7 days.
• OPC give slightly more strength than PPC and PSC after 28 days.
• Where there is less availability of water PPC and PSC can proves good alternative to OPC because of less
affectability of curing method
• For OPC mix design is made for safer side slightly to overcome the reduced strength in intermittent curing.

V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Author thanks to Mr. Sudhanshu Shekhar, Prof. Jayalaxmi, Mr. Dalvi, Mr. Kirtish, Mr. Mahesh Koli.

REFERENCES
[1.] IS Code 456:2000
[2.] Suresh b. Piplewar, Narendra M. Kane, Devendra pande, Intermittent curing M20 concrete, ISSN 2319-
6009 vol.2,no. 3 august 2013, IJSCER
[3.] IS Code 10262:2009
[4.] S.C. Maiti, Raj K. Agarwal, Rajeev Kumar, Concrete mix proportioning, The Indian Concrete Journal
December 2006
[5.] Pavel Siler, Iva Kola ova, Thomas Sehnal, JilMasilko, Tomas Opravil , The determination of the influence
of pH value of curing conditions on Portland cement hydration, ICEBMP 2016, 1877 7058, Elsevier.
[6.] 6 LinglinXu , Kai wu, Christiane Robtler, Peiming Wang, HM. Ludwig, Influence of curing temperature
on the hydration of calcium alluminate cement / Portland cement/ Calcium Sulphate blends, 09589465,
Elsevier2017
[7.] Zainab hashim, Abhas, Hasen Shaker Majdi, Study of heat of hydration of Portland cement used in Iraq
Case studies in construction material, 2214-5095 Elsevier 2017

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