We have casted 10 columns, but due to contractors labours problem the shuttering have not removed after 5 days however they are curing from top.
No deshuttering of column after 5days
- Thread starter Mehboob
- Start date
I feel that there will be higher gain in strength as regards to normal curing wherein contractors only surface cure the columns as against the basic principle of curing where it says " the concrete surface should be constantly kept moist" which practically never happens on site provided you are using curing compounds.
Now in your case continue to cure from the top as currently the shuttering will not allow entrapped moisture to escape whereby helping in the hydration process of concrete so there is no risk as such infact you will get better strength as against the ones which you have already cured using traditional methods.
As per my expereince where we were casting pre-cast concrete members the shuttering material is kept in place and immediately after deshuttering it is covered with plastic polythene to restrict water to evaporate and then curing compound is sprayed on concrete. So not a single drop of water is used for curing.
So I dont find any problem just continue to cure from the top of the column
thank you so much for your help, shall I proceed without deshuttering it, if it is so then how many days i keep it. And pls suggest how many test I should conduct because my pm is going for demolition.
Dnyan Deshmukh
Staff member
You can keep it as long as you want, not deshuttering directly helps concrete to achieve strength.
So if you have more material then you can keep shutter in place for atleast 10 days. Keeping for more period will always do help concrete.
For acceptance or rejection of concrete there is only one test which we do, concrete cube compressive strength.
When concrete fails to achieve strength in samples which are tested.
NDT tests are done on concreted members to get indication of is there problem with concrete or casted cubes.
Breaking columns is easier activity and mostly preferred when concrete does not indicate strength in it.
While breaking column, situation might become severe if breaker damages rebar cage and reconcreting done without replacing.
In you case if the concrete cube had achieved desired strength and you cured colum well from top - there is no need of breaking it.
In your case, your PM wish to teach lesson to contractor for timely action, it might be a good thing, but unkowingly can create huge problem in structure.
You should speak with your PM and understand the reasons of such decision.
You should also make point of, while breaking as reinforcement is not directly visible, its core will get damaged at some places in whole column height, ypu may replaced lapped bars, what about rest which came from slab.
You can also ask him to get NDT done at cost of contractor -test like Rebound hammer, UPV etc are the very cheapest test you can get done (both test at 10 location cost 2000 to 3000 INR)
Those test can make picture more clear, though they are not much reliable but indications will help you in taking decisions.
Thank you so much sir I am always getting a better answer & suggestions from this forum, I am happy to be in this forum thank you.
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