ADVANCED CURING CONTROL IN VIEW OF DURABLE CONCRETE STRUCTURES

The potential of advanced systems for curing control is discussed. It is shown how with the present generation computer programs it is possible to simulate the hydration process, including the formation of the microstructure, in hardening concrete structures and how informa-tion about the microstructure can be used for quantification of the evolution of materials properties. Hydration-based procedures for prediction oftemperature and shrinkage-induced stresses and the risk of cracking are discussed. The modern and challenging trend will be discussed not to relate the cracking risk to the temperature differentials but to calculated stresses. It will be explained why curing control systems can be considered as examples of the possibility to make hndamental knowledge on the materials level assessable and opera-tional in the engineering practice, and this with the aim to enhance the quality of concrete structures.