Ive heard the term slump pertaining to concrete. What is slump?
The term slump simply refers to the consistency of the concrete in a plastic state (prior to hardening). Slump is a measure of how wet or stiff the concrete is. Obviously, the more water used in producing the concrete, the wetter (or higher) the slump will be. Again, excessive water causes a dramatic loss of strength. Applications exist where higher slump (wetter) concrete is necessary because of difficulty in placement or specification requirements. These higher slumps can be attained through the use of water reducing admixtures (chemical additives). Back to top QUESTION: How long does concrete continue to gain strength after it is placed? ANSWER: Concrete’s most rapid period of strength gain occurs in the first 7 days. The accepted time standard for measuring concrete strength is 28 days. However, concrete will continue to gain strength for long periods of time (months, even years!) As long as moisture is present to continue the chemical process of hydration.
