Influence of curing on durability performance of concrete

Durable concrete experiences a long service life in most natural environments without deterioration. One of the important factors that influence the durability of concrete is curing. This paper represents a comprehensive investigation to study the effect of method and duration of curing on concrete durability. The techniques of curing used in this study encompass the majority of methods commonly encountered on site. The methods of curing were freshwater, wet burlap, plastic film, liquid membrane and air (no curing). The study considered different durations of curing of 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Concrete specimens were exposed to various conditions of deterioration: sulphate attack, cycles of wetting and drying, temperature changes, high temperature, fire and corrosion of reinforcing steel. Compression, tensile strength, weight and corrosion of steel were then monitored. Each of these parameters is utilized to evaluate the durability performance. Durability performance is defined as the ratio between a mon...