How Does Concrete Maturity Work?
The maturity method has three main steps, which you can read more about below. (from “What is the Maturity Method?”
Step 1: Make a Maturity Calibration
A Maturity Calibration determines the relationship between the maturity and strength development of a specific concrete mix.
To find this relationship, you make some samples with the concrete mixture that you will use in your project and instrument some of them with temperature sensors. The samples are then cured under the same conditions and the temperature history is measured using the sensors. Then, you need to perform break tests of the samples at different test ages to determine their compressive strength. Once that is done, plot the strength data from the break tests and the maturity from the temperature history in a graph. Lastly, find the best fitting curve through your data points, also known as the Maturity Curve.
- You can add the strength results and maturity values in Maturix and the system will automatically plot the Maturity Curve.
Read our detailed article about Maturity Calibration.
Step 2: Estimate the In-Place Strength
Once you have performed a maturity calibration for your concrete mixture, you can estimate the in-place concrete strength by placing temperature sensors inside your structure. These will calculate the Maturity Index in your concrete and relate it to a certain strength from the Maturity Curve.
- In Maturix, it is extremely easy to follow the strength development, as the software will display the results in real-time and these can be accessed remotely. Moreover, it is possible to set up alarms to get notified when the desired strength has been achieved.
Read our detailed article Estimate In-place Strength with the Maturity Method to learn more.
Step 3: Validating the Maturity Calibration
Validating the calibration and maturity curve regularly is important as there might be small variations in materials, batching equipment, and conditions which might affect the accuracy.
To validate your maturity calibration, make some samples during the next batch and compare the strength estimated using the Maturity Method with the strength obtained from other testing methods.
ASTM C1074 strongly recommends not to perform critical operations without verification of the maturity calibration or without strength validation using other test methods.
Read more about Validating the Maturity Calibration.