What PSI is High Early Concrete?

(What PSI is High Early Concrete?)

What PSI is high early concrete?

Concrete strength is an important consideration for any project. Whether you are placing a foundation, a concrete slab on grade or a bridge, you need your concrete to withstand the pressures it will be subjected to.

The most common concrete metric, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), is compressive strength. It is used to determine the performance of a concrete mixture in a given application.

A concrete with a higher psi will be more expensive than one with a lower psi, but it also has better durability and will last longer. This is why you will often see concrete with a higher psi on the bag, especially in colder climates.

Compressive strength is usually tested at seven days and then again at 28 days to assess the overall performance of the concrete mix. This is typically done by breaking cylindrical concrete specimens in a special machine that measures the compressive strength.

High early strength can be achieved with the use of Type III portland cement, a low water/cement ratio and a water-reducing admixture. This design enables concrete to reach full strength in as little as 28 days.

The use of an accelerator, such as calcium chloride, can accelerate the set/cure time and increase the rate of strength development. This can be a major benefit to fast-track construction and repair applications. However, it can be detrimental to long-term performance in such applications as full-depth pavement patches.

(What PSI is High Early Concrete?)