Influence of Multiple Methods and Curing Temperatures on the Concrete Compressive Strength

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the interference of different curing conditions on the development of the concrete compressive strength under the perspective of construction management. It is known that the conditions of humidity and temperature are the main factors related to the behavior of the concrete strength, so that modifying these parameters directly affects the material's behavior and, consequently, construction management. Forty-two specimens of concrete were molded and each 6 specimens were submitted to different temperature and humidity conditions. The first group was oven-cured at a temperature of 100°C. The second and third groups were kept at ambient temperature of 23 ± 2°C being that the latter was submerged in water and the former was exposed to the air humidity. The specimens of groups 4 and 5 were placed in a freezer at 5°C. Group 4 was submerged in water and group 5 was not. The curing of group 6 occurred under submerged condition with water at about 100°C. Group 7, on the other hand, was cured in water vapor. The group submitted to curing at room temperature and submerged condition was the one with the highest compressive strength value, while the ones with the lowest compressive strength were the groups of samples cured in the oven and those submerged at 100°C. The results were compared and tested using statistic methods, which proved that the curing conditions directly affected concrete properties.