Long-term strength and durability parameters of lightweight concrete in hot regime: importance of initial curing

The paper presents results on strength development and durability of 35 and 50 MPa total lightweight concretes exposed to hot marine exposure conditions for a period of 7 years. An initial water curing of 7 days and subsequent seaside exposure was found more beneficial for the strength development of lightweight concrete. One day of initial curing and subsequent seaside exposure was not very conducive for the strength development. A marginal degradation in both the stiffness and the modulus of rupture of the concretes over the exposure period was observed. Likewise, the water penetrability of the two mixtures, for all the three initial curing regimes, increased over a period of 7 years. This establishes that the compressive strength of concrete is not synonymous with its durability. Overall, 3–7 days of initial water curing seems most desirable to enhance the durability of concrete exposed to hot salty marine exposure conditions.