A Study of Effect of Accelerators on Compressive and Flexural Strength of High Strength Concrete

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental study of effect of accelerators on compressive and flexural strength of high concrete. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) 43 grade was used to produce concrete mixtures M40 and M60. Concrete mixtures were designed as per the new guidelines of IS 10262:4009.Toal 240 specimen were made (120 cubes and 120 beams). Three accelerators Potassium Carbonate, Sodium Thiosulfate and Triethanolamine were used. Both compressive strength and flexural strength of standard specimens with accelerators have been recorded at one, three, seven, fourteen and twenty-eight days of curing with water and compared with strengths of controlled specimens at their corresponding ages. The test results revealed that the maximum percentage gain was observed for Triethanolamine accelerator out of three accelerators at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days compressive and flexural strength for both M40 and M60 grade of concrete. Also there is a very little change in 28 days compressive strength with all accelerators for both M40 and M60 grade of concrete.
Keywords: Accelerator; Compressive Strength; Flexural Strength; OPC