Application efficiency of the PENOPLEX extruded polystyrene foam during winter concreting by the warm curing method

Introduction. The article presents the results of research into the possibility of using PENOPLEX extruded polystyrene foam in formwork systems during winter concreting by the warm curing method.

Aim. The study is aimed at the development of the formwork system applying the PENOPLEX extruded polystyrene foam for shortening the periods of concrete hardening to the necessary strength and reducing the electric power costs during the combination of the warm curing with electrical heating in the winter concreting.

Methods and materials. The analysis of the acting regulatory and methodical bases, concerning the studied issue, was carried out for solving the stated goals. A special program of experimental studies was developed and tests were carried out to determine the strength of the obtained samples of concrete made according to various schemes of thermal insulating the formwork system both with and without using the concrete electric heating under fixed energy consumption. The performed works promote for the conclusions about the effectiveness of the extruded polystyrene application in the universal formwork systems during the winter concreting by the warm curing method.

Results. In the comparison with the developed schemes, the continuous thermal insulation of the extruded polystyrene foam was revealed to have the greatest effectiveness during the winter concreting by the warm curing method. Depending on the concrete holding time, the continuous thermal insulation scheme under electric heating saves energy resources 3.5-5.5 times efficiently in contrast to the scheme without using the extruded polystyrene foam in terms of the insulation. Concrete strength tests demonstrated that the concrete compressive strength required for removing the formwork can be obtained on the second day already.

Conclusions. According to the results of the study, the use of the PENOPLEX extruded polystyrene foam plates in the formwork system with the continuous heat insulation during the winter concreting by the warm curing method reduces the periods of concrete hardening to the necessary strength and decreases power consumption for the electrical heating in the combination of winter concreting methods.

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