Maturity Concept in the Strength Development of Concrete - Project Information and Background

This project focuses on the Maturity Concept in the Strength Development of Concrete. It discusses the characteristics of the project, objectives, project group, and the author's area of work. It also covers the engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project, the theory of the project, and identified issues and solutions. The plan to produce creative and innovative work is also discussed.

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Maturity Concept in the Strength Development of Concrete
Location of the project: Please fill
Project Duration: Please fill
Organization: Please fill
Role and Designation during the time: Project Developer
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
This project of Maturity Concept in the Strength Development of Concrete was my
third important project in engineering career. The maturity method is the technique for
accounting for the joint effects of the temperature as well as time over the significant strength
development of the concrete. This method is responsible for providing the simplest approach
to make reliable estimates in place strengths of the concrete during construction. The basic
concepts of the methods and the proper application were checked here.
CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
This particular project of Maturity Concept in the Strength Development of
Concrete consisted of two objectives. They are as follows:
 To apply the various applications of maturity concept in the strength development of
concrete.
 To check the tenure of the concrete by noting its strengths.

Head of the Department
Project Supervisor
Me (Civil Engineer)
CE 3.2.3 My area of work
This project of Maturity Concept in the Strength Development of Concrete had
several significant segments. My major area of work was to execute the maturity method and
concrete maturity within development of strength of concrete. My next area of work was to
document the entire project properly and perfectly. I even understood the effect of the
temperature over strength gain. The other areas of work involved strength development
relationships and ASTM practice 1074.
CE 3.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I had some of the major responsibilities in this particular project Maturity Concept in
the Strength Development of Concrete. My first and foremost responsibilities were the ideal
preparation of several technical specifications, and executing the maturity method. Maturity
method was the most important methodology in our project and hence had to execute it

perfectly. I made sure that the entire maturity method is executed without errors. In the
beginning, I was subsequently facing some of the major problems, while executing this
method. However, my project supervisor and head of the department had subsequently helped
out to solve all the several difficulties. My next significant responsibilities were preparation
of the various quality manuals and the standards to manage or issue each and every drawing
of the project. I even had interpreted or determined the specifications, drawings, plans,
construction methodologies and processed. Moreover, I even documented, coordinated and
planned with a team for the execution of sites. I even researched the various architectural and
engineering drawings and specifications to perfectly calculate the overall expenses and even
prepared the respective cost plan in details. I even made an estimation of the most important
tools for the purpose of assisting in the control of the budgets.
CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I had successfully applied some of the most important civil engineering skills and
knowledge in this specific project of Maturity Concept in the Strength Development of
Concrete. I am a hardworking person and have excellent skills for problem solving. As I have
various experiences in the projects of real life, I used my significant experience in the specific
project. I have skills to convince several people, who are working under me and hence, I
could say that I comprise of leadership skills. As a specific civil engineer, the leadership
skills are required in the project and thus I had utilized them perfectly. I have used my
knowledge of physics and mathematics and being a civil engineer, I made sure my
knowledge of MS Project and Primavera are used properly here.

CE 3.3.3 Comprehending the Theory of Project
Most of the factors eventually influence the overall rate where the total strength of the
concrete increments after getting mixed. The process of setting can be defined as the
hardening of concrete only when it is being placed. This specific concrete could be eventually
set within that, which is no longer fluid; however it might be extremely weaker. This process
of setting is for the early stage formation of calcium silicate hydrate and to the formation of
ettringite. These terms of initial set as well as final set can be termed as the arbitrary
definitions of the earlier and the later set. There are several laboratory processes for to
determine all these with the help of weighted needles that are penetrating into the cement
paste. The next process after setting is hardening. It is the procedure of the strength growths
and could continue for more than weeks and months when this concrete is being mixed as
well as placed. Hardening is mainly for the large formation of the mixture of calcium silicate
hydrate since the cement goes on hydration. The specific rate where this concrete sets is
absolutely independent on the rate where it gets harden.
This was done by the preparation of concrete prisms or cubes, and then curing these
for the specific times. The most common times for curing were 2, 7, 28 and 90 days. The
respective curing temperature was usually 200C. When the specific age of testing was
reached, these cubes or prisms were crushed in the larger press. The typical SI unit for the
measurement of concrete strength is Mega Pascal, however Newtons per square millimetre is
broadly utilized as more convenient. Hence, 50 Newton concrete, solely refers to the concrete
that has been achieved by 50 Newtons per square millimetre, or simply 50 Mega Pascals.
When these measurements are based on the concrete cubes, they are broadly utilized within
various construction industries.
The maturity method eventually depend on the measured temperature of the concrete
for estimating the development of strength within the curing period, where moisture is

present for the cement hydration. This temperature history is utilized for the calculation of a
quantity, known as maturity index. For each and every concrete mixture, the significant
relationship within maturity index and strength is checked beforehand. This strength
relationship as well as the measured in place maturity index were utilized for estimating the
in place strength.
Concrete maturity can be defined as the index value, which represents the specific
progression of the concrete curing. This method is on the basis of an equation, which
undertakes into account the concrete temperature, strength gain and time. This concrete
maturity is the most accurate way in determining real time strength value of the curing
concrete. This particular method could address all the immediate challenges that are being
faced within the concrete industries like the prediction of the correct time for post-tensioning
or formwork stripping, especially at the lower temperatures when this strength development
of the concrete is being hindered; and then optimizing of the design of concrete mix as well
as concrete curing condition.
The strength development relationships were also checked in our project. The
temperature, which we took, was 230C and the time was for 28 days. The equation was
where, S= strength at t
Su= limiting strength
k=rate constant, 1/day and
t0= age at start of strength development.
The in-place strength was determined by

and
where, kr= value of rate constant at reference temperature and
tor= age at start of strength development at reference temperature.
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues
Some of the most significant issues or problems were identified in this project. Two
significant issues of the project were needed to be solved on an immediate basis. They are as
follows:
i) The first issue was concrete porosity. This was lacking in my project. The voids in
the concrete could be filled with either air or water.
ii) The next issue that took place in the project was while checking the water and
cement ratio. This was the total mass of water being divided by the total mass of the cement
in our mix. Our concrete mix comprised of 400 kg cement as well as 240 litres, i.e. 240 kg of
water for having the water to cement ratio of 240/400, which is 0.6. However, our project was
lacking this result.
3.3.4.2 Solutions
To solve these above mentioned issues, I suggested suitable solutions to all the issues
and hence they were solved quickly. The significant solutions to all of these issues are given
below:

i) For the first issue, I provided the suggestion to check the porosity of the concrete
once again. This time I was able to track down the problem and hence our issues were
resolved eventually.
ii) For the next issue, I gave the suggestion that the w/c ratio increment would
increment the total porosity of cement paste within the concrete. When the porosity would
increase, the overall compressive strengths of this concrete would decrease. Hence our
problem was solved.
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
My plan was to produce innovative and creative work by working collaboratively. I
segregated my entire work properly and each task was executed properly and with utmost
sincerity. Moreover, regular follow-ups were taken, so that the project does not face any type
of problem.