Abstract
The objective of this study was to experimentally investigate the effect of heat curing methods on the temperature history and strength development of slab concrete exposed to $-10^{\circ}C$. The goal was to determine proper heat curing methods for the protection of nuclear power plant structures against early-age frost damage under adverse (cold) conditions. Two types of methods were studied: heat insulation alone and in combination with a heating cable. For heat curing with heat insulation alone, either sawdust or a double layer bubble sheet (2-BS) was applied. For curing with a combination of heat insulation and a heating cable, an embedded heating cable was used with either a sawdust cover, a 2-BS cover, or a quadruple layer bubble sheet (4-BS) cover. Seven different slab specimens with dimensions of $1200{\times}600{\times}200$ mm and a design strength of 27 MPa were fabricated and cured at $-10^{\circ}C$ for 7 d. The application of sawdust and 2-BS allowed the concrete temperature to fall below $0^{\circ}C$ within 40 h after exposure to $-10^{\circ}C$, and then, the temperature dropped to $-10^{\circ}C$ and remained there for 7 d owing to insufficient thermal resistance. However, the combination of a heating cable plus sawdust or 2-BS maintained the concrete temperature around $5^{\circ}C$ for 7 d. Moreover, the combination of the heating cable and 4-BS maintained the concrete temperature around $10^{\circ}C$ for 7 d. This was due to the continuous heat supply from the heating cable and the prevention of heat loss by the 4-BS. For maturity development, which is an index of early-age frost damage, the application of heat insulation materials alone did not allow the concrete to meet the minimum maturity required to protect against early-age frost damage after 7 d, owing to poor thermal resistance. However, the combination of the heating cable and the heat insulating materials allowed the concrete to attain the minimum maturity level after just 3 d. In the case of strength development, the heat insulation materials alone were insufficient to achieve the minimum 7-d strength required to prevent early-age frost damage. However, the combination of a heating cable and heat insulating materials met both the minimum 7-d strength and the 28-d design strength owing to the heat supply and thermal resistance. Therefore, it is believed that by combining a heating cable and 4-BS, concrete exposed to $-10^{\circ}C$ can be effectively protected from early-age frost damage and can attain the required 28-d compressive strength.
