Authors: Khan Junaid Ahmed, Md Qasimumar Noorulamin, Khan Miran Altaf, Mohammed Juned Qazi
Abstract: Concrete requires adequate internal moisture during cement hydration to achieve specified compressive strength and long-term durability. Conventional curing methods (ponding, spraying, and wet coverings) require significant volumes of potable water and continuous site labor—resources that are severely restricted in water-stressed regions. Self-curing concrete provides an effective alternative by retaining internal moisture through chemical admixtures. This experimental investigation evaluates the fresh and hardened properties of M30 grade concrete incorporating Polyethylene Glycol-400 (PEG-400) as a self-curing agent at replacement levels of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% by weight of cement. Workability was measured via slump tests, while mechanical performance was evaluated through compressive strength (7, 14, and 28 days), split tensile strength, and flexural strength. The experimental results indicate that workability increases linearly with PEG-400 dosage. An optimum dosage of 1.5% PEG-400 yielded the highest mechanical performance, achieving a 28-day compressive strength of 39.1 MPa (14.3% higher than the control mix). Beyond 1.5%, a marginal decrease in mechanical properties was observed.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21930217
