Effect of curing compounds on the finishability of concrete evaluated via the free damped oscillation method using a rigid-body pendulum

Abstract

Curing agents are often used to improve the finishability of concrete surfaces. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the influence of a surfactant-based curing agent on the viscoelasticity of cement paste via the free damped oscillation method, using a rigid-body pendulum. The results recorded indicate that the relative storage modulus and the relative loss modulus of cement paste are computable from the oscillation cycle and logarithmic decrement of the free damped oscillation of a rigid-body pendulum. Mixing the surfactant-based curing agent into cement paste yielded a more significant effect than mixing water, delaying and restraining the increase in the relative storage modulus and relative loss modulus of the cement paste.