M Naderi - Associate. Prof., Imam Khomeini International University, Head of Civil. Eng. Dept., Takestan Azad University
R Sheibani - P. G. Student, Civil Eng. Dept. Takestan Azad University
M. A. Shayanfar - School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran,

The purpose of this investigation was to conduct a laboratory test program on how much different curing conditions affect the attainable strength of concrete. To achieve this purpose, a laboratory test program was conducted. The laboratory program consisted of casting 150 mm by 150 mm concrete cubes using eight different mix designs and subjecting them to six different curing conditions. In order to investigate the influence of curing conditions, on the compressive strength of concrete cubes, for each mix design three cubes were chosen for every curing regime. The curing regimes employed were: immersion in drinking water; covering with wet hessian and polythene sheet; keeping under dry laboratory conditions; keeping in open air; curing compound and steam curing. Except for steam curing system, the specimens of which were tested at the age of three days, for all other curing conditions, the compression tests were performed at the age of 28 days. It has been found that the curing system greatly influences the concrete strength. While the highest gain in compressive strength was recorded for cubes covered with wet Hessian and polythene sheet, the lowest gain in compressive strength was recorded for the specimens cure using steam curing.

concrete, compressive strength, curing systems