CEMENT and CONCRETE RESEARCH. Vol. 16, pp. 633-645, 1986. Printed in the USA. 0008-8846/86 $3.00+00. Copyright (c) Pergamon Journals, Ltd. THE EFFECT OF PRACTICAL CURING METHODS USED IN SAUDI ARABIA ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF PLAIN CONCRETE Dr. M. Said Taryal, M.K. Chowdhury, Seppo Matala Building Research Department Saudi Arabian Standards Organization P.O. Box-3437, Riyadh 11471, Saudi Arabia (Communicated by C.B. Brown) (Received April 30; in final form May 27, 1986) ABSTRACT This study has been conducted to determine the effective curing method and time for practical purposes, in environmental condition where the ambient temperature is above 45°C and the relative humidity less than 15%, which is quite normal during summer time in the central region (Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia. Four different methods of curing which are commonly used in Riyadh were studied apart from curing by standard laboratory method and without any curing. Saline well water which is commonly used in Riyadh was used for mixing and curing concrete, apart from using Potable Water. 1308 concrete cube specimens were prepared and cured by different methods and duration upto 28 days and were tested to evaluate the compressive strength at different ages upto 224 days. According to the test results, the curing methods as investigated can be classified into three categories on the basis of their efficiency. Category 1, in which curing was done by sprinkling water and covering by plastic sheet was found to be the most effective method in this environment. Graphs for each method of curing were plotted to select the most effective curing method and time as a function of compressive strength, for practical purposes in hot and dry climate. INTRODUCTION The term curing means the creation of environment, having satisfactory moisture and favourable temperature in concrete, after placing to develop the desired properties of concrete. The hydration of cement will more or less cease when the relative humidity in concrete is lower than 80% because the capillary pores in hardened concrete are emptied ‘elow this relative humidity. In normal site conditions, it is rather impossible to create the ideal environment of concrete for complete hydration. For practical purposes, it may be necessary to select the optimum combination of curing method and time, to compensate the strength loss of concrete due to inadequate 633634 Vol. 16, No. 5 M.S. Taryal, et al. hydration, The properties of concrete e.g bond between concrete, and the steel reinforcement, durability, water tightness, abrasion etc are effected due to strength losses for the combined effect of high ambient temperature and insufficient curing. Different methods of curing have been studied in Europe and the United States. The results of these curing studies in temperate and cold zones of the world are not always adaptable to the local environmental and site conditions in Saudi Arabia. Very few studies have been conducted on curing of concrete in climatic condition, where the temperature rises above 45°C and the relative humidity drops below 15%, which is quite normal during the summer in the central region (Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia. In this environmental condition, the concrete dries out rapidly leaving the hydration process incomplete which causes the loss of strength in concrete at early and later ages. Three systems of curing concrete can be considered. The first system ie the continuous and frequent application of water in concrete, the second system is the prevention of loss of mixing water from the concrete and the third system is the combination of the above two systems. Curing by means of the first system by direct continuous application of water either by spraying, ponding or wet covers are satisfactory only when there is no shortage of water supply, but due to the scarcity of water in most of the central region (Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia, there is a need for alternate system of curing. Curing by means of second system by preventing the loss of water by means of sealing materials are applied at a time when the free water on the surface has disappeared. But plastic shrinkage cracks develop in fresh concrete, before application of sealing materials due to rapid evaporation of water in hot and dry climate. As such this system may not be suitable in this climatic condition. The third system, the combination of the first and second system may be suitable for such climatic condition. This study was conducted with the main objective to generate data on methods of curing of concrete in practice in Saudi Arabia, for the preparation of Saudi code of practice by studying the following: 1. To determine the most effective method of curing for practical purposes in hot and dry climate of Saudi Arabia. 2. To determine the optimum curing time for practical purposes by the different methods of curing. 3. To determine the rate of gain of strength, by different methods of curing. 4. To study the effect of saline well water used for mixing and curing concrete in Saudi Arabia, on compressive strength of concrete, cured by different methods and time. LABORATORY PROCEDURE In order to fulfil the above objective, 1308 concrete cube specimens (150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm) were prepared and cured for different duration of 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days and were tested to evaluate the compressive strength at different ages of 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 56, 112 and 224 days. Four different curing methods which are commonly used in Saudi Arabia have been investigated, besides one group of specimen was cured in the laboratory condition, and one group for no curing condition in site. Potable tap water and saline well water which is widely used for concreting in Riyadh, were used for mixing and curing concrete specimens.Vol. 16, No. 5 635 CURING METHODS, TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, SALINITY, STRENGTH ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS DURING THE STUDY: The experimental tests were carried out in environmental condition of Riyadh, where the temperature condition during the summer is the highest and stable having daily maximum temperature of above 45°C and very low humidity of below 15% (Figure 1). ‘The experimental tests were started at the middle of June, which is the beginning of the intense sumer, and the environmental condition is stable during the next 2-3 months, and suitable for the uniform curing condition in the site. so i oH = -- MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE y : AVERAGE TEMPERATUR: = 30 3 © 2 EL MINIMUM: TEMPERATURE = 20 7 RELATIVE HUMIDITY = = w 10 a ® = TFMAMSSASOND MONTHS. Fic. 1 Curves for Temperature and Relative Humidity in Central Region (Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia CURING METHODS: Four methods of curing which are commonly used in Riyadh area were studied, apart from without curing in site and the curing by the standard method used in the laboratory under controlled temperature. Wet covering by plastic sheet method, in which the concrete cube specimens were placed in site and were covered with impervious plastic sheets after spraying water twice daily and the method has been designated as method C. Wet covering by burlap method in which the concrete cube specimens were placed in site and were covered with a coarse fabric of jute and water was sprayed over this twice daily and the method has been designated as method B. Sprinkling with water method, in which the concrete cube specimens were placed in site and were cured by sprinkling water twice daily and the method has been designated as method W. Covering by plastic sheet method, in which the concrete cube specimens were placed in site and were covered with an impervious plastic sheet only without adding any extra water during the whole curing period and the method has been designated as method OC. In the laboratory method of curing, designated as method L, the concrete cube specimens were totally immersed in water at temperature of 23 + 20C. This method has been selected for comparing the practical curing methods with that of the standard laboratory curing. In order to compare the efficiency of the above methods of curing with that of without curing, concrete cube specimens were tested without any curing which has been designated as method NC. In this method the concrete cube specimens were placed in normal atmospheric condition in site without adding any water. Due to the scarcity of fresh water in Saudi Arabia, since it is forbidden to use tap water for construction purposes, it is often necessary to use locally available saline well water for mixing and curing concrete. In order to study the effect of local saline water on mixing and curing concrete, the following three series of concrete cube specimens were Prepared, which have been cured by each of the above methods of curing:636 Vol. 16, No. 5 M.S. Taryal, et al. Series 1: 450 concrete cube specimens prepared from concrete mixed with potable water, cured by potable water, has been designated as PP. Series 2: 450 concrete cube specimens prepared from concrete mixed with potable water, cured by saline water, has been designated as PS. Series 3: 360 concrete cube specimens prepared from concrete mixed with saline water, cured by saline water, has been designated as SS. Twenty four concrete cube specimens prepared from concrete mixed with potable water have not been subjected to curing, have been designated as POO, further 24 concrete cube specimens prepared from concrete mixed with saline water without any curing have been designated as S00. It is worthwhile to mention here that, all the concrete cube specimens were in laboratory condition for the first 24 hours after casting of the cube specimens. During this period, all the specimens were inside the steel cube moulds covered by impervious plastic sheet at a laboratory temperature of 23 + 20C. After 24 hours the concrete cubes were demoulded and the curing was started by the different designated methods. MATERIALS: Ordinary Portland cement from one lot of production was collected from one of the local cement company in Riyadh. The physical and mechanical properties of the cement were, specific surface (Blaine) 31.6 m2/kg, initial and final setting time (Vicat), 140 minutes and 180 minutes respectively, expansion (Le-chatlier) 0.5 mm, Compressive Strength (Prism method) at different ages of 3, 7 and 28 days are 33.5 N/mm2, 48.5 N/mm2 and 62.0 N/mm2 respectively. Crushed coarse aggregates and natural sand from Riyadh having the grading as shown in Figure 2 have been used in this investigation. Potable tap water and local saline well water from Riyadh area, were used for mixing and curing concrete, having the chemical analysis shown in Table 1. ‘TABLE-L CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF WATER Chemicals Concentration ppm Tap water ‘Saline water Total Dissolved Solids (TDS 990 3091 Chlorides (cl) 227 792 Sulphates (S04) 401 1185 Calcium (Ca) 98 225 Magnesium (Mg) 31 88 Sodium (Na) 143 485 Potassium (K) 10.5 16.5 Total Hardness (Ca C03) 468 1222 Total Alkalinity 120 109 PH. value 19 8.0 The mix proportions of concrete mixes used throughout the study were, aggregate 1760 Kg/m3, cement 350 Kg/m3, water/cement 0.74, having slump 80-100 mm. TEST PROCEDURE: The measured quantity of aggregate, cement and water was mixed in the laboratory concrete mixer at a laboratory temperature ofVol. 16, No. 5 637 CURING METHODS, TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, SALINITY, STRENGTH | 100 a0 60 40 PASSING PERCENT 20 © 025 050 10 20 40 80 160 315 SIEVE SIZE (mm) FIG. 2 The Grading of Combined Aggregates 2342°C, After mixing, steel cube moulds (150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm) were filled with concrete and compacted by table vibrators in two layers. The moulds were then covered with a plastic sheet and placed in room at a temperature of 23 + 20C for 24 hours. After demoulding the cube specimens for curing methods’W, C, B, OC and specimens prepared for no curing were placed in natural environmental condition outside the laboratory for designated curing. The specimens prepared for method L were placed in water at a temperature of 23 + 20C. The curing was continued till the specified time and the compressive strength was determined at specified ages. TEST RESULTS The test results of compressive strength by different methods of curing of series 1 (potable mixing water and potable curing water PP), series 2 (Potable mixing water and saline curing water PS) and series 3 (saline mixing water and saline curing water SS) are shown in Table-2. The values of compressive strength shown in Table-2 are the mean values of three specimens. The compressive strength without any curing for concrete mixed with potable water (POO) are 15.8, 18.8, 20.6, 20.7, 21.1, 21.2, 21.4 and 21.6 N/mm2 for different ages of 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 56, 112 and 224 days respectively. The compressive strength without any curing for concrete mixed with saline water (S00) are 15.0, 17.8, 19.7, 19.8, 20.1, 20.6, 20.8 and 21.0 N/mm? for different ages of 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 56, 112 and 224 days respectively. ANALYSIS OF TEST RESULTS EFFECT OF MIXING WATER: In order to study the effect of quality of mixing water on compressive strength of concrete, cube specimens of series 2 and series 3 have been considered where the mixing water was different but the curing water was the same. ‘The average compressive strength for different curing times f'cp. and f'cgg have been calculated at different ages of 7, 14, 21, 28, 56, 112 and 224 days for series 2 and series 3 respectively. The ratio £'cpg/f'egs has been calculated and shown in Table 3.5 Vol. 16, No. ‘TABLE~2 TEST RESULTS OF COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH BY DIFFERENT METHODS OF CURING M.S. Taryal, et al. 638 el eee ee asec ycecies pace epics . 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The variation of the ratio £'cps/f'css may be considered negligible at later ages after 28 days i.e the saline mixing water (TDS less than 3000 PPM) may be considered to have negligible effect on the compressive strength of plain concrete for practical purposes. EFFECT OF CURING WATER: In order to study the effect of quality of curing water on compressive strength of concrete, cube specimens of series 1 and 2 have been considered where the curing water vas different but the aixing water was the same. The average compressive strength f'ops, for Gieferene curing tines wore welcciated av different ages of F's, FE, 28, 28, 56, 112 and 224 days for series 2 and series 1 respectively. The ratios f'cps/f'cpp were calculated and shown in Table-4. TABLE- 4 The RATIO £'epe/E'epp- Age _ [Ratio f'eps/f'css for curing method (aye) [|W 5 c L 7 1.09 1.13 1.00 0.73 uw 1.08 1.05 1,000.84 ue 1.07 1.04 1.04 0.90 28 1410 1607-105 0.94 56 1.10 1.08 1.08 0.95 uz 1.10 1.08 = 1.06 0.95 224 1.10 1.09 1.06 0.95 The ratio £'cps/f'cpp varies with the different methods of curing, although the variation is not so high (5%-102). The compressive strength of concrete cured by saline water is slightly higher than that of compressive strength of concrete cured by potable water, by all the curing methods W, B and C except by method L, where the situation is just opposite. This slight increase in compressive strength due to saline curing water may be partly explained by the fact that, in methods W, B and C the curing water evaporates from the concrete surface leaving behind the salts consequently clogging the pores of concrete. It is interesting to note that, the ratio f'epg/f'cpp is the highest (1.10), for curing method W, where the rate of evaporation is the highest and the ratio is the lowest (1.06), where the rate of evaporation is the lowest. Hence, slight advantage can be obtained by curing concrete with saline water in hot and dry climate. It may be640 Vol. 16, No. 5 M.S. Taryal, et al. remembered here that, due to use of saline water, discolouration of concrete surface occured due to formation of salts on the concrete surface, as such saline curing water may not be used for concrete where the finishing surface is important. EFFECT OF CURING METHODS: In order to study the effect of different curing methods, the ratio of compressive strength at different ages up to 224 days cured for different periods of 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days by specified curing method (f,) to the compressive strength at 28 days cured by standard laboratory method L, for 28 days (fo,2g), have been calculated and plotted in Figure 3. It may be mentioned here that, the quality of mixing and curing water having TDS 3000 PPM, has no pronounced effect on the compressive strength of plain concrete, as such the mean values for series 1, 2 and 3 have been considered in computing the values shown in Figure 3. From the figure 3, it is noted that for 28 days curing, the compressive strength at 224 days cured by method C is about 1.51 times higher than the standard strength (f'c12g) which is the strength at 28 days, cured for 28 days by standard method L. Similarly for the same curing time the compressive strength at 224 days cured by method B, W and OC are 1.40, 1.08 and 1.14 times higher then the standard strength (f'c12g) respectively. The same superiority order is also observed for compressive strength at other ages at different curing periods. Time required to gain the standard strength (f'o12g) by different curing methods and time have been calculated and shown in Table-5. ‘TABLE- 5 TIME REQUIRED TO GAIN STANDARD STRENGTH (fc1,28) Time required (Days) to gain Curing | standard strength by method Time Days c B W oc 3 35 70 = 7 12 18 60 40 4 -- 16 40 40 21 -- - 35 35 28 =- - 30 30 From the table 5, it is noted that the 28 days strength cured for 28 days by method L, can be obtained in 35 days, cured for 3 days by method C, whereas 70 days are required to obtain the same strength by method B, whereas 60 days and 40 days are required for method W and OC respectively by curing for 7 days. From the above discussions it is clearly evident that the curing method C is the most effective method compared with the other curing methods as investigated, at all ages of concrete and in all curing periods. The curing methods as investigated in this study can be divided into three categories on the basis of efficiency. ‘The category 1 (High efficiency) which is the best curing method is the method-C, the category 2 (Medium efficiency) which is the second best curing method is the method B and the category 3 (Low efficiency) is method W and OC, which are not an effective curing methods. ‘There is a great difference in strength of concrete cured by method C and method W and OC. The W and OC methods do not provide any protection for early quick drying out of concrete, which might have caused micro cracks in the concrete, and as such these methods are not effective for such weather condition of high temperature and low humidity. The other methods B and C provides a reasonable protection against early quick drying of concrete in this environmental condition.Vol. 16, No. 5 641 CURING METHODS, TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, SALINITY, STRENGTH EFFECT OF CURING TIME: In order to study the effect of curing time, the increase (%) in compressive strength of concrete cured by different methods, relative to the corresponding strength by no curing methods (to avoid the influence of wet specimens) have been plotted and shown in Figure 4. From the figure, it is noted that for curing method ¢ (category-1) due to prolonging the curing period from 7 days to 14 days, the compressive strength at 224 days increases about 20%, whereas there is only about 8% and 4% increase in 224 days strength for prolonging the curing period from 14 days to 21 days and 21 days to 28 days respectively. Hence, for curing method C (category-1), the effective curing time may be considered to be 14 days under local environmental condition in Riyadh. For curing method B Lee c an |4 a tal — to =<" DAYS CURING eee oreo Ure eer zz a _ AGE (DAYS) c aah 8 wah w Aol oc oo 21_DAYS CURING 2 a 162128 724 | oe AGE (DAYS) c = B eek Si w a oe oc 2 = oe 16 DAYS CURING z 3 7 1e-a 2836 F324 oe AGE (DAYS) ¢ rab 8 w rob oc os 7__DAYS CURING oes eater 7s ae nee uaeelieeaa ae AGE (DAYS) = B rok w oc Osh Ne os ae 2__DAYS CURING 3 73h 2836 aa AGE (Days) FIG. 3 Ratio £,/f, 28L at Different Ages for Different Methods of Curing642 Vol. 16, No. 5 M.S. Taryal, et al. sob sok INCREASE ("%e) T 7 = yore INCREASE (*h) TTT HT 7 = 5 a sok so oc F320 b oC 20 zo b 1 eo a8 Ia CURING TIME (DAYS) CURING TIME (DAYS) INCREASE ("1 T T T 1 \ + o 4 INCREASE (4) T 1 es er 5 20k e 10 20 ° Li. 10 3°07 «4 2 ae Sit 2) eae CURING TIME (DAYS) CURING TIME (DAYS) FIG. 4 Increase in Percent Relative to Corresponding Strength by no Curing (category-2), due to prolonging the curing period from 7 days to 14 days, the compressive strength at 224 days increases about 14%, whereas there is about 10% and 9% increase for prolonging the curing period from 14 days to 21 days and from 21 days to 28 days respectively. This shows that some advantage can be obtained by prolonging the curing period up to 28 days by this method. The effective curing time for method B (category-2) may be considered to be about 28 days. Due to longer curing time, this method may not be suitable in the environmental condition of high temperature and low humidity, and where there is scarcity of water. The effective curing time for method W & OC (category-3) is 7 days, since there is about 10% increase in 224 days strength for prolonging the curing period from 7 days to 28 days.Vol. 16, No. 5 643 CURING METHODS, TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, SALINITY, STRENGTH The same conclusions, are also drawn, from the test results of compressive strength at 112 days and 56 days. But the compressive strength at 28 days may mislead the above conclusions, due to the influence of wet and dry specimens in method B and C. In the standard laboratory method of curing the specimens were totally immersed in water during the entire period of curing and the specimens were tested 15 minutes after taking out fronwater, as a result in the standard curing method (method L), produced lower results for specimens tested as early ages. In the test results of 224 days, the effect of wet specimens is insignificant, because the specimens were kept inside the laboratory (Temp 23+20C) after 28 days curing. STRENGTH LOSSES BY DIFFERENT CURING METHODS: ‘The strength losses at 224 days for different methods and time of curing, relative to the 224 days strength cured for 28 days by standard method (method L), have been calculated and plotted in Figure 5. The strength losses are substantially reduced for method C and B as compared with the other two methods (W and 0c) of curing, and the method C shows the minimum strength loss. After 7 days curing, the strength loss by method C is about 10% less than the corresponding loss by the method B. After 14 days curing, about 10% strength loss can occur by method C, where as the same loss can occur by method B, after 28 days curing. For 3 days curing, the strength loss at 224 days for different methods of curing OC, W, B, and C are about 40%, 38%, 31%, 28% respectively and the losses after 28 days curing are 29%, 25%, 8% and 0.7% respectively for methods OC, W, B and C. For without any curing the loss is about 45% From the above discussions, it is evident that the strength losses at early curing periods are quite high for different curing methods, considering that all specimens were cured for the first 24 hours in moulds under plastic cover at a temperature of 2304+20C. The strength loss observed in this investigation may be due to generally known effect of quick drying and moisture movement due to high temperature and low humidity, which cause an STRENGTH LOSS(*) CURING TIME (DAYS) FIG. 5 Loss of 224 Days Strength Relative to 224 Days Strength Cured for 28 Days by Method L644, Vol. 16, No. 5 M.S. Taryal, et al. insufficient hydration and internal stresses causing micro cracks in hardened concrete. It may be mentioned here that in the test procedure, the drying surface in relation to their volume of the cube specimens (150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm) was quite large, which may not correspond to the practical condition in site. As a result such high strength loss observed in this study, may not occur in actual field. On the other hand it maybe pointed out that the curing environment of this investigation was very severe, temperature being above 450¢ and relative humidity below 15%. Xo CURING TIME (DAYS) 3 7 228 86 2 224 AGE (Days) AGE (DAYS) FIGURE 6. CURING ME FIGURE.7 CURING METHOD -B CURING TIME (DAYS) 3 Tega lee tts ae eer sGhe Nae ea4) AGE (DAYS) AGE (DAYS) FIGURE 6. CURING METHOD -W FIGURE. 9, CURING METHOD - OC SELECTION OF CURING METHOD AND TIMEVol. 16, No. 5 645 CURING METHODS, TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, SALINITY, STRENGTH SELECTION OF CURING PROCEDURE: In order to select the optimum method and time of curing in hot and dry climate, a system of graphs were plotted in Figure 6, 7, 8 and 9 on the basis of the test results of this investigation for each method of curing. In each figure, three variation concrete age, curing time and the ratio = fc/fegg, have been considered, where fc is strength of concrete at particular age cured for particular time and £761 is the compressive strength of concrete at 28 days cured for 28 days by standard laboratory method L. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The evaluation of data analysis of th: following conclusions 1. The saline well water having TDS equal to or less then 3000 PPM, used for mixing and curing concrete has no significant effect on the compressive strength of plain concrete up to the age of 224 days and on the rate of gain of strength of concrete cured by different methods used in this investigation. 2, The curing methods considered in this investigation can be classified into the following three different categories on the basis of their efficiency: Category 1 (High efficiency): Sprinkling with water twice daily and covered by plastic sheet. Category 2 (Medium efficiency): Sprinkling with water twice daily and covered by jute hessians. Category 3 (Low efficiency): Sprinkling with water twice daily or covering by plastic sheet only without any water. Category 1 produces about 10% higher results than that of category 2. Category 2 produces about 30% higher results than that of category 3. 3. Category 1 is recommended for curing concrete in hot and dry climate. Category 3 is not recommended for such climate. Category 2 produces about 10% lower result then that of category 1. Effective curing time for category 1 is about 14 days, where as the effective curing time for category 2 is about 28 days 5. The graphs shown in Figure 6, 7, 8 and 9 are recommended for selecting the practical curing method and time to attain the target strength of concrete in hot and dry climate. investigation leads to the REFERENCES 1. Roger £.C, "Concrete Curing Tests", Concrete International, Design and Constructions, ACI, Vol. 5, No. 4 April 1983. Deas "Recommended Practice for Curing Concrete", ACI 308-71 78). . Byfors J. "Plain Concrete at Early Ages". CBI Research Report Fo. 3:80, Stockholm, 1980. 4. Mecoy W.J. "Mixing and Curing Water for Concrete", STP 169A, ASTM, Philadelphia 1966. 5. ASTM, "Mixing and Curing Water for Concrete, Significance of Tests and Properties of Concrete and Concrete Making Materials", SRP-169B ASTM, Philadelphia 1978. 6. Orchard D.I, "Concrete Technology", Vol. 2. London 1979. 7. Powers T.C "A Discussion of Cement Hydration in Relation to the Curing of Concrete", Highway Research Board, V27.