Curing — Surface Moisture-Loss Budget
Surface Moisture-Loss Budget calculator for concrete curing planning and material take-off.
Plastic shrinkage is a race between evaporation and bleed — the threshold isn't a magic 1.0, it's whichever moment the surface dries while the body is still plastic. This budget makes the race explicit; silica-fume mixes lose it at evaporation rates a plain mix shrugs off.
Formula
Note: Planning estimate only — strength for structural decisions (formwork striking, post-tensioning, loading) must be verified by site-cured specimens or a calibrated maturity system per the project specification.
Surface Moisture-Loss Budget calculator for concrete curing planning and material take-off. A free concrete curing, maturity & strength tool — no sign-up, no upload, instant results in your browser.
About Curing — Surface Moisture-Loss Budget
Curing — Surface Moisture-Loss Budget computes the governing relationship deficit = E − bleed · loss = deficit × finishing window live as you type. Plastic shrinkage is a race between evaporation and bleed — the threshold isn't a magic 1.0, it's whichever moment the surface dries while the body is still plastic. This budget makes the race explicit; silica-fume mixes lose it at evaporation rates a plain mix shrugs off. Defaults are pre-filled with realistic values for this exact scenario, and the worked example substitutes your numbers step by step so the math is never a black box.
How to use Curing — Surface Moisture-Loss Budget
- 1Enter your values — Evaporation rate, Mix bleed rate, Finishing window (sensible defaults are pre-filled).
- 2Read the live results: Moisture deficit rate, Net loss over window.
- 3Check the "with your numbers" line to see deficit = E − bleed · loss = deficit × finishing window substituted step by step.
- 4Adjust inputs until the scenario matches yours, then copy or share the result.
Why use Curing — Surface Moisture-Loss Budget?
- ✓Instant, free and private — every calculation runs client-side in your browser; nothing is uploaded
- ✓Built on the stated formula deficit = E − bleed · loss = deficit × finishing window with authoritative sources cited on the page (ACI 308R — Guide to external curing of concrete; Neville, A.M., Properties of Concrete, 5th ed.)
- ✓Plastic shrinkage is a race between evaporation and bleed — the threshold isn't a magic 1.0, it's whichever moment the surface dries while the body is still plastic.
- ✓Niche-specific defaults give a meaningful worked answer the moment the page loads
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the curing — surface moisture-loss budget use?+
It evaluates deficit = E − bleed · loss = deficit × finishing window, exactly as published. Sources: ACI 308R — Guide to external curing of concrete; Neville, A.M., Properties of Concrete, 5th ed.. The substituted worked example on the page lets you verify every step against the textbook.
How should I read the result — and how far can I trust it?+
Plastic shrinkage is a race between evaporation and bleed — the threshold isn't a magic 1.0, it's whichever moment the surface dries while the body is still plastic. Planning estimate only — strength for structural decisions (formwork striking, post-tensioning, loading) must be verified by site-cured specimens or a calibrated maturity system per the project specification.
When is this calculator the right tool for the job?+
Surface Moisture-Loss Budget calculator for concrete curing planning and material take-off. A free concrete curing, maturity & strength tool. This budget makes the race explicit; silica-fume mixes lose it at evaporation rates a plain mix shrugs off. For neighbouring scenarios, the related tools below cover the same engine with different presets.
Do I need to install anything or create an account?+
No. The tool is pure client-side JavaScript: open the page and it works, offline once loaded, with no account, no quota and no data leaving your device.
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