An Experimental Investigation of Self Curing Concrete using Light Expanded Clay Aggregates (LECA) and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

In Today’s life concrete is important material used in the construction because of its strength and durability properties. To attain better strength and durability curing is must. The scarcity of water, inaccessibility of structures in hilly areas, improper curing by human negligence’s demands alternate solution for curing. In the present study both LECA (Light Expanded Clay Aggregates) and Poly Ethylene Glycol PEG400 were used as potential materials for self-curing of concrete. The effect of both PEG400 and LECA on the mechanical properties of concrete can be done by changing the percentage of PEG400 by the equivalent weight of cement from 0%to 2% and coarse aggregates are replaced by LECA of about 10%were studied for M30 grade of concrete. In conventional concrete 0%PEG and also 10%of coarse aggregates are replaced by dry LECA aggregates. In self-curing concrete the PEG400 is varied from 0.5% to2% by weight of cement for each variation of PEG400 chemical 10%of coarse aggregates are replaced by LECA aggregates. It was found that mechanical properties like compressive strength, spit tensile strength, flexural strength of self-curing concrete is more than the normal curing concrete.