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Title |
Influence of Moisture Content on the Mechanical Properties of Concrete at Low Temperatures
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Authors |
이인용(Inyong Lee) ; 최종권(Jongkwon Choi) |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.4334/JKCI.2025.37.6.777 |
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Keywords |
콘크리트; 저온; 함수율; 압축강도; 탄성계수 concrete; low temperature; water content; compressive strength; elastic modulus |
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Abstract |
This study quantitatively evaluated the effect of concrete moisture content, determined by different curing conditions, on mechanical properties in low-temperature environments. Concrete specimens cured under water, sealed, and air-dried conditions were tested under uniaxial compression at 20 °C, -20 °C , and -60 °C. Compressive strength, elastic modulus, strain at maximum stress, and representative moisture content were measured, and regression analyses were performed to assess temperature-property relationships. Compressive strength increased with decreasing temperature for all curing methods, with water curing showing the largest gain due to its high moisture content, which promotes densification of the microstructure during the water?ice phase transition. The rate of increase in elastic modulus also varied with curing method, with water curing exhibiting the steepest slope in linear regression, indicating greater stiffness improvement. These results show that concrete behavior in cold environments depends strongly on moisture content. Higher moisture content enhances strength, stiffness, and deformation capacity through microstructural densification. For cold-region structures, securing sufficient internal moisture via proper curing should be considered a key design parameter for long-term durability and safety.
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