Setting and Hardening

concrete
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Setting
Setting time is defined as the
transition from a fluid state to
a plastic state.

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Setting (cont’d)
 The stiffening of the concrete after it has been
placed. A concrete can be 'set' in that it is no
longer fluid, but it may still be very weak; you may
not be able to walk on it, for example. Setting is
due to early-stage calcium silicate hydrate
formation. The terms 'initial set' and 'final set' are
arbitrary definitions of early and later set; there are
laboratory procedures for determining these using
weighted needles penetrating into cement paste.

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Setting (cont’d)
 It has been found that this transition
can occur in less than one hour or
could take up to 24 hours.
 Initial set of cement paste is
defined as the time when the paste
has gained enough rigidity to no
longer be in a fluid state.
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Setting (cont’d)
 The final setting time is when rigidity has
increased to a point that the paste
becomes a solid of very low strength.
 In general, cement exhibit initial set in 2 to
4 hours and final set in 5 to 8 hours.
 Final set is then followed by substantial
increases in strength, referred to as the
hardening stage.

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 Addition of water

Dormant
period
Initial setting
Plastic and workable paste time min 45
minute

Initial set

Final setting
Stiff and unworkable paste time max 10h.

Setting

Final set

Hardening Rigid solid gaining strength

with time

Schematic description of setting and hardening of a cement paste.

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Hardening
 The process of strength growth and
may continue for weeks or months
after the concrete has been mixed
and placed. Hardening is due
largely to the formation of calcium
silicate hydrate as the cement
hydrates.

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Hardening (cont’d)
 Hardening time is when concrete
has a sufficient bearing capacity to
support construction loads.
 This hardening of concrete may
occur in a few hours, or could take
up to 2-3 weeks.

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Factors that affect the setting and hardening time
include, but are not limited to

 Type and amount of cementitious

material (cement and fly ash);
 Water content;
 Presence of admixtures
(accelerators, air entrainers, and
water reducers);

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Factors that affect the setting and
hardening time include, but are not limited
to (cont’d)
 Volume of fill;
 Properties of surrounding soil
(permeability and degree of
saturation);
 Ambient temperature; and
 Curing conditions.

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HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

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 High temperature during
construction means that extra
precautions need to be taken to
ensure successful concrete pours.
 Hot weather, especially when
combined with low humidity and
high winds, can make pouring
difficult
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 The ideal temperature for laying concrete is
around 60°F (15.6ºC), and anything above
80°(26.7ºC)and 90°F (32.2ºC) is considered
hot weather concreting.
 When the aggregate and the water reach a
higher temperature the concrete does not
mix as well, and shrinkage of the concrete is
greatly increased.

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Listed below are the potential problems
for freshly mixed or plastic concrete:
 Increased demand for water
 Faster rate of setting, increased difficulty with
handling, transporting, compacting, finishing
and a greater risk of cold joints
 Rate of slump loss increased
 Increased jobsite water additions
 Increased plastic shrinkage cracking
 Entrained air content control increased
difficulty

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Listed below are the potential problems
for hardened concrete:
 Decreased compressive strength at 28 days
and later (sometimes up to 30%) resulting
from higher water demand and/or higher
temperature levels at time of placement
 Increased incidence of drying shrinkage and
differential thermal cracking
 Decreased durability
 Variability of surface aesthetics
 Increased permeability

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Methods which will help control mix
temperature and heat are:
 Using crushed ice in the water added to the mix
 Liquid nitrogen
 Sprinkling aggregates stockpiles
 Storing aggregates in a cooled place
 Incorporation of fly ash
 Moisten sub-grade before placement
 Incorporation of retarding admixtures
 Applying evaporation retardant to the concrete
surface to reduce evaporation rates at the surface
 Cure the concrete immediately and thoroughly.

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Retarding admixture can help:
 Reduce water requirement
 Decreased rate of set
 Improves workability
 Increases strengths both compressive and
flexural
 Reduce peak heat of hydration

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Curing and protection

 After placement and finishing operations are

completed, procedures must continue to
protect the concrete from high temperatures,
direct sun, low humidity, and winds.

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COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

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 Concreting in cold weather requires special
knowledge and skills to ensure accelerated
hardening and high quality in plain- and
reinforced-concrete structures.
 Cold Weather Concreting familiarizes
concrete specialists with the characteristic
features of concrete in cold weather, including
the effects of frost, methods for hardening in
subzero temperatures, and other challenges
in cold-weather concreting
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Cont’d
 Cold weather precautions should be taken
when the temperature drops below 4oC.
Concrete can be placed safely throughout the
winter months if certain precautions are
taken. The concrete mixture and its
temperature should be adapted to the
construction procedure and the ambient
weather conditions.

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Listed below are a few common sense
tips for concreting in cold weather.
 Discuss with your ready mix producer the possibilities
of using hot water, increasing the cement content, or
adding an accelerating admixture.
 Order air entrainment if the concrete is exposed to
freeze-thaw conditions during or after construction.
 Plan ahead. Have insulation and heaters ready and
available when temperatures are below freezing.
 Do not place concrete on frozen sub-grade; thaw the
sub-grade with steam or protect with insulation.

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Listed below are a few common sense tips for
concreting in cold weather. (cont’d)
 Adding approximately a gallon of water per
cubic yard of concrete can increase set time
up to one-half hour; adding approximately two
gallons can increase set time up to an hour.
 Provide triple insulation thickness at corners
and edges of walls and slabs.
 Concrete gains very little strength at low
temperatures. Fresh concrete must be
protected against the disruptive effects of
freezing until the concrete attains a
compressive strength of about 500 psi.
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Listed below are a few common sense tips for
concreting in cold weather. (cont’d)
 Do not expose concrete surfaces to a sudden
temperature drop; gradually reduce insulation or
enclosure temperature to control concrete cooling
(not more than a 50 degree Fahrenheit drop in 24
hours).
 Avoid using unvented heaters, carbon dioxide from
the heaters can cause soft, dusting floors.
 Keep heaters attended at all times
 leave forms in place as long as possible. Even within
heated enclosures, forms serve to distribute heat
more evenly and help prevent drying and local
overheating.
 All formwork must be free from snow and ice

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