International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Engineering (IJETE)

Volume 2 Issue 4, April 2015, ISSN 2348 8050

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON SELF CURING CONCRETE USING

SODIUM LIGNOSULPHONATE
1

Riyaz Ahamed. K, M.E, Assistant Professor

Pradeep Kumar.A, M.PLAN, MBA. Assistant professor
3
Durai Priyadarshini, 4Kalaivani.K, 5Kingsta Beautlin.M
1,2,3,4,5
Dept. of Civil Engineering, Veltech Engg college

Abstract
Concrete is a mixture of cement, aggregates and water
with or without suitable admixtures. Curing is the process
of maintaining the proper moisture content to promote
optimum cement hydration immediately after placement
and to attain desirable strength and other properties. This
paper reports an experimental study carried out to
investigate the usage of sodium lignosulphonate as selfcuring agent. In this study compressive strength and split
tensile strength of self-curing concrete with varying
percentages(0.5%,1%,1.5%,2%,2.5%,3%) for 7,14,28
days are analyzed, tested and compared with conventional
concrete of similar mix design. According to IS: 102621982, the mix design is determined for concrete of grade
M20.Compressive and split tensile test results shows that
the optimum strength of self-curing concrete attain at
0.5% mixture of sodium lignosulphonate when compared
to conventional concrete.
Keywords: curing, self-curing concrete, compressive
strength, sodium lignosulphonate, tensile strength,
chemical admixture

1. INTRODUCTION

strength by adding self-curing agent in varying

percentage.
To compare the strength between conventional and
self-curing concrete.

3. MATERIAL USED
3.1 Cement -Ordinary Portland cement of grade 53
grade.
3.2 Fine aggregate-Locally available river sand. The
percentage of passing is within the limits as per IS: 3831970
3.3 Coarse aggregate -Crushed stone was used as
course aggregate .The coarse aggregate according to IS
383-1970 was used. Maximum coarse aggregate size
used is 20mm
3.4 Water -Water used was fresh, colorless, odorless
and tasteless, convenient water that was free from cause
early-age cracking organic matter of any type.
3.5 Sodium lignosulphonate Sodium Lignosulphonate
are mainly for concrete mixture as water-reducing
additive.
Table 1.1 properties of sodium lignosulphonate
S.NO

INDEX
ITEMS

STANDARD
VALUES

Appearance

Dark Brown

TEST
RESULT
Meets the
requirement

Lignosulpho nate

50% (min)

55

Dry matter

92% (min)

94

Moisture contents

7.0% (max)

3.9

Curing of concrete is for maintaining satisfactory

moisture content in concrete during its early stages in
order to develop the desired properties. However, good
curing is not always practical and often neglected in
many cases. Several investigators asked the questions
whether there will be self-curing concrete. Therefore, the
need to develop self-curing agents attracted several
researchers. The concept of self-curing agent is to reduce
the water evaporation from concrete and hence increase
the water retention capacity of the concrete compared to
conventional concrete. The use view that water resources
are getting valuable every day. The benefit of self-curing
admixtures is more significant in desert areas where water
is inadequately available.

2. OBJECTIVE
To improve the effectiveness of the water content of a
concrete mix by using sodium Lignosulphonate.
To determine the characteristics of self-curing
concrete such as compressive and split tensile

PH value

Inorganic

7-11

5.0% (max)

1.9

4.0% (max)

4.1

Salts (Na2So4)

Total reducing
matter

Water insoluble
matter

2.5%

1.3

74
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International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Engineering (IJETE)

Volume 2 Issue 4, April 2015, ISSN 2348 8050
content per cubic metre of concrete = 186kg and sand
content as percentage of total aggregate by absolute
volume = 35 per cent.

4. METHODOLOGY
Literature Study

For change in value in water-cement ratio,

compacting factor, for sand belonging to zone 3,
following adjustment is required.

Material
Collection
Specimen Test

1. Compressive

TABLE 2: PERCENT ADJUSTMENT

Material Test

Lab Test

Change In
Condition
(Is 10262)

1. Specific

Strength.

Gravity

2. Split Tensile
strength

2. Sieve
Analysis

For
decrease in
watercement
ratio by
(0.6-0.5)
that is 0.10.

Result Analysis

For
increase in
compacting
factor (0.90.8), that is
0.10.

Conclusion

5. MIX DESIGN
MIX PROPORTIONING FOR M20 GRADE
CONCRETE

For sand
conforming
to zone-3
of table 4,
IS: 3831970.

As per IS 10262
Grade destination: M20
Cement: ordinary Portland cement
Coarse aggregate size: 20mm

Test data for materials

Specific gravity of cement
=3.478
Specific gravity of coarse aggregate =2.645
Specific gravity of fine aggregate =2.636
Sieve analysis:
For Coarse aggregate =Conforming to table 2
(IS: 383-1970)
For Fine aggregate =conforming to grading zone 3 of
Table 4 (I S: 383-1970)

TOTAL

Target mean strength of concreteThe target mean strength for specified characteristic
cube strength is,
20+1.654 = 26.6 Mpa (refer Table 11.21 and Table
11.22 (IS 10262) for values of t and s)

Selection of water-cement ratio

From fig. 11.10(IS 10262) the water-cement ratio
required for the target mean strength of 26.6Mpa is 0.5.

Percent
Adjustment
Required(Water
Content)

(IS 10262)

Percent
adjustment
required
(sand in total
aggregate)

-2

+3

-1.5

+3

-3.5

Therefore, required sand content as percentage of

Total aggregate by absolute
volume
= 35-3.5 = 31.5%
Required water content
=186+5.58=191.61/m
Determination of cement
content
Water-cement ratio
= 0.50
Water
= 191.6 liter
Therefore, cement
= 191.6/0.50
= 383
kg/m

Selection of water and sand content

From table 11.24,(IS 10262) for 20mm maximum size
aggregate, sand conforming to grading zone 2, water

75
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International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Engineering (IJETE)

Volume 2 Issue 4, April 2015, ISSN 2348 8050

This cement content is adequate for mild exposure

condition.(refer table 9.18 from IS 10262)

the compressive strength and split tensile

strength.

Determination of coarse and fine aggregate contents

From table 11.23(IS 10262), for the specified
maximum size of aggregate of 20mm, the amount
of entrapped air in the wet concrete is 2 per cent.
Taking this into account and applying equations.

6.1 Compressive Strength

The compressive force applied per
area on the specimen is termed as
compressive strength. In simple words
compressive force is the pushing force that
on the specimen.

unit
the
the
acts

V= (w+ (c/sc) + (1/p) (fa/sfa)) (1/1000)

Table 3 Compressive Strength of Concrete Cubes
Percentage
7 Days
14 Days
28 Days
Of S.C.A
2
2
2
(N/mm )
(N/mm )
(N/mm )

0.98 = (191.6 + (383/3.478) + (1/0.347) (fa /2.636))

(1/1000)
fa = 620 kg/m
Ca = ((1-p)/p) fa (Sca/Sfa)
Ca = ((1-0.347)/0.347 620 (2.645/2.636)

Conventional
standard

13.0

18.0

20

Conventional
(obtained)

13.5

18.2

22.5

0.5

14.44

18.25

24.0

1.0

7.10

10.0

12.50

1.5

4.80

9.43

11.70

2.0

4.20

8.70

10.0

2.5

3.30

7.00

9.80

3.0

3.20

6.90

9.65

Ca = 1171 kg/m
The mix proportion then becomes:
WATER CEMENT FINE
AGGREGAT
E

COARSE
AGGREGAT
E

191.6

383 kg

620 kg

1171 kg

0.5

1.61

3.05

Therefore, we adopt the mix proportion taken is 1:1.5:3

6. EXPERIMENT

N/m
m

15

14 Days Test

10In
5
0

0.50%

28 Days Test
Results

3%

1.50%
2%
2.50%

1%

Results

concentional(staconv
entional(obt

CompressiveStrength

It is significant that the ingredient material of

concrete remain consistently distributed within
the concrete mass during the various stages of
handling and that full compaction is achieved,
and making sure that the characteristics of
concrete which affect full compaction like
consistency, mobility and compatibility are in
conventionalitywith relevantcodes of practice.
The test carry out in this paper is compressive
and split tensile test. In this experiment we found
strength of self-curing concrete by adding
sodium lignosulphonate (chemical admixture) at
0.5%, 1%, 1.5%.2%, 2.5%, 3% and also
comparing with conventional concrete to study

7 Days Test
Result

20

Percentage Of S.C.A

Graph 1Comparison of Compressive Strength

76
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International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Engineering (IJETE)

Volume 2 Issue 4, April 2015, ISSN 2348 8050

6.2 SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH

7. RESULT AND CONCLUSION

The tensile force applied per unit area on the

specimen is termed as the tensile strength .In simple
words the tensile force is the pulling force that acts
on the specimen.

Experimental studies were carried out on concrete

by adding self-curing agent (sodium lignosulphonate) in
varying percentages of cement. Physical properties such
as compressive strength and split tensile strength was
evaluated based on the experimental result the following
conclusions are drawn.

Table 4 Split Tensile Strength of Concrete Cylinders

Percentage
Of S.C.A

7 Days

14 Days
2

(N/Mm )

28 Days

(N/Mm )

(N/Mm )

Conventional
(Standard)

1.50

1.60

1.90

Conventional

1.52

1.59

1.95

To check the tensile strength, split tensile test is

conducted which shows that the strength increased by
2.5 % at 0.5% sodium lignosulphonate to conventional
concrete with same water-cement ratio (0.5)

(Obtained)
0.5

1.62

1.73

2.00

1.34

1.43

1.74

1.5

1.30

1.40

1.70

1.27

1.38

1.67

2.5

1.12

1.20

1.50

0.90

1.13

1.42

2
In 2zN/mm

Comparing to these varying percentages of sodium

lignosulphonate (0.5%, 1%, 1.5, 2%, 2.5%, 3%). A
compressive and split tensile test result shows that the
optimum strength of self curing concrete attained at
0.5% mixture of sodium lignosulphonate when
compared to conventional concrete.

7
Days
Tensile
Strength

1.5

14

Days

Tensile
Strength

0.5

3%

Percentage Of S.C.A

2.50%

2%

1.50%

1%

0.50%

conventio
conventio

Tensile Strength Of

Concrete

28 Days
Tensile
Strength

The self curing agent of sodium lignosulphonate is

used at different percentages with M20 grade concrete
mix and analyzed the result. It reveals that the
compressive strength of concrete is found to be
increased by 6.25% at 0.5% of sodium lignosulphonate
compared with conventional concrete of same watercement ratio (0.5).

Graph 2 Comparison of tensile strength

The experimental study shows that the use of water

soluble sodium lignosulphonate is possible as a selfcuring agent. It reduces placing problems in hot weather
concreting by improving workability and workability
retention and allows workability to be increased without
adding extra water.

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International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Engineering (IJETE)

Volume 2 Issue 4, April 2015, ISSN 2348 8050

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