Electric Curing of Conductive Concrete
Status: Completed
Funding Agency: Army Corps of Engineering/ERDC-CRREL
Abstract:
This project investigates the use of conductive concrete for electric curing in cold weather conditions. In the first phase, the team developed conventional concrete without conductive filler and conductive concrete mixtures using carbon and steel fibers at dosages of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% by volume. Key parameters to assess the mixes included electrical and thermal performance, fresh and hardened properties, and effectiveness of electric curing in maintaining target curing temperatures. The study measured fresh and hardened properties, including slump, air content, density, absorption and void content, compressive strength, and splitting tensile strength. The inclusion of steel fibers improved the mechanical properties of hardened concrete; however, carbon fibers slightly reduced strength. Results also showed that carbon fiber significantly enhanced conductivity, whereas steel fiber had a minimal effect. In the second part of the study, selected mixtures were subjected to electric curing, and their performance was evaluated under three curing regimes: normal curing at ambient temperatures of 68 ° F (20° C) for conventional concrete (CC) or 23° F (-5° C) for cold weather concrete (CWC) mi, curing in cold weather at 5° F (-15° C) for both CC and CWC, and electric curing in cold weather (5° F or -15° C) for CC and CWC. Results demonstrated that electric curing allowed ECC to maintain curing temperatures and prevent frost damage. Additionally, semi-adiabatic calorimetry indicated that cold-weather concrete generated higher early-age heat of hydration, suggesting lower power demands. A prototype electric curing system specification is also proposed.
Investigators: Dr. Islam Mantawy, PhD., Dr. Shahriar Abubakri, PhD.
Link to Publications:
Masbouba, Mohamed, Shahriar Abubakri, Danielle Mokris, Benjamin Watts, and Islam Mantawy. Electrically Cured Concrete: A Comprehensive Review of Material Properties, Technological Innovations, and Practical Applications. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 38, no. 12 (2026): 03126008. https://doi.org/10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-23320
Sunga, Alyssa Yvette, Shahriar Abubakri, Gilson Lomboy, Islam M. Mantawy, Danielle Mokris, and Benjamin Watts. Enhancing Cold Weather Construction: Electric Curing Applications of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete. In Canadian Society of Civil Engineering Annual Conference, pp. 101-113. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02110-6_10
Sunga, Alyssa Yvette, Shahriar Abubakri, Gilson Lomboy, Islam Mantawy, Danielle Kennedy, and Benjamin Watts. Electric curing of conductive concrete for cold weather. In IABSE Symposium Manchester 2024: Construction's Role for a World in Emergency, pp. 789-797. International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), 2024. 10.2749/manchester.2024.0789
Sunga, Alyssa Yvette G, Development of Conductive Concrete for Electric Curing Application in Cold Weather (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 3324. https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/3324