Title:
Effect of Initial On-Site Curing on 28-Day Cylinder Strength
Author(s):
Jose Calavera, Jaime Fernandez-Gomez, German Gonzalez, Jorge Ley, and Pedro Lopez
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
108
Issue:
5
Appears on pages(s):
510-515
Keywords:
Compressive strength; concrete specimens; initial curing.
DOI:
10.14359/51683260
Date:
9/1/2011
Abstract:
The initial curing of concrete specimens for quality assurance is addressed in different ways in testing standards, which often specify requirements that are difficult to meet in practice unless very costly initial curing chambers are available. The failure to meet these requirements in many areas of the world does not appear to result in adverse consequences. This study analyzed six initial curing temperature schemes, all with cycles similar to natural conditions to avoid the simplifications inherent in constant temperature curing. Three strengths of concrete and two initial curing times (24 and 72 hours) were used in this study. The findings showed that initial curing time had no effect on 28-day strength. The 28-day strength also proved to be resilient to maximum and minimum initial curing temperatures outside the limits stated in the standards considered in this study.