External Vibrations on Early‐Age Concrete: A Review

ABSTRACT Early‐age concrete exhibits limited mechanical strength, making it highly susceptible to external disturbances such as vibrations from construction activities, traffic, or nearby machinery which can disrupt internal structure. This paper presents a state‐of‐the‐art review of this underexplored and critical topic, drawing primarily data from laboratory experiments and field active construction sites. Reported results indicate that intensities exceeding approximately 0.2 g acceleration paved a reduced compressive strength. Some of the control groups in the literature exhibited the highest average tensile strength, while the weakest group showed only a 7% decrease. These inconsistencies are due to alteration/overlap in the chemical activity, particle distribution, air bubble formation. The literature reveals inconsistent findings regarding the thresholds of vibrations, as well as conflicting conclusions on vibration parameters and mechanical properties. Furthermore, limited research exists on key factors such as the role of admixtures, curing regimes, material composition, vibration screening methods, and the anisotropy of damage. Fiber reinforced specimens studied at early ages had improved vibration resistance, with strength ratio falling between 0.8–1.0. By consolidating current knowledge and identifying research gaps, this review aims to inform best practices and propose future directions to optimize construction processes and mitigate the adverse effects of early‐age vibrations on concrete performance.