feature

Effects of Non-Standard Curing

on Strength of Concrete
A Research Project at the
NRMCA Research Laboratory
– Series D 335 and D 338
By Karthik Obla, NRMCA Director of Research and Materials
Engineering, Fernando Rodriguez, NRMCA Laboratory Manager
and Soliman Ben-Barka, Senior Laboratory Technician

Introduction tions; 2. The producer has no control over ditions and conditions not fully complying
oncrete properties vary considerably the curing conditions; 3. The producer is with standard curing requirements. The

C depending upon the temperature

and humidity that they have been
subjected to early on in their life. The stan-
responsible for providing concrete of consis-
tent strength that will be subjected to a stan-
dard curing condition as defined by ASTM
variation in the strength development in
each of the conditions is shown and it is
hoped that this report will support the pro-
dard that dictates the procedures for making C 31. This point is stressed in all industry ducer’s case.
and curing test cylinders, ASTM C 31, standards, such as ASTM C 94, ACI 318
defines two different curing conditions to be and ACI 301. Cold Weather Conditions
used for specific purposes. ASTM C 31 “Practice for Making and (Series D 335)
1. Standard curing: This condition Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field” The unusually cold weather in January in
involves subjecting the specimens to requires that standard cured cylinders for Maryland prompted the NRMCA laboratory
standard temperature and humidity con-
ditions and the strength results are pri-
marily used for concrete acceptance and
quality control.
It becomes a problem when the engineer or
2. Field curing: This condition involves sub- a purchaser argues that concrete must be
jecting the specimens to the temperature
and humidity that the actual structure accepted based on field-cured test cylinders.
experiences and the strength results are
primarily used for determining whether a
structure is capable of being put in service
and scheduling form work removal. concrete acceptance should undergo initial staff to undertake a simple experimental
It becomes a problem when the engineer curing between 60oF and 80oF for up to study to quantify the effect of cold tempera-
or a purchaser argues that concrete must be 48 hours after which they should be trans- ture exposure on concrete compressive
accepted based on field-cured test cylinders. ferred to a moist room or water tank. strength development. A nominal 4000-psi
The engineer may argue his case by pointing However, in the field this may not always air-entrained concrete mixture was prepared
out that his concrete structure does not be practiced. and a total of 32 4 x 8-inch cylinders were
experience standard cured conditions and he NRMCA Research Laboratory conduct- made and cured in various conditions imme-
would like it to attain the specified strength ed two experimental programs where test diately after casting.
required in the structural design based on cylinders were exposed to exterior condi-
the actual “field cured” conditions that the tions in summer and winter months and Experimental Details
structure experiences. On the face of it this compared these results to standard cured The 2.5 cu. ft. concrete batch was pre-
sounds like a valid argument. The concrete specimens. In both cases, concrete cylinders pared at the NRMCA Research Laboratory.
producer needs to point out: 1. Strength prepared from a specific mixture were sub- The mixture had a cement content of 475
depends substantially on the curing condi- jected to standard curing, field curing con- lbs/yd3 and fly ash content of 50 lbs/yd3, at

CONCRETE in focus ı 57
a water-cementitious materials (w/cm) ratio buckets (2 cylinders per bucket) on the Conclusions
of 0.52. A Type A water reducer and an air lab loading dock; stripped at 48 hours 1. This study demonstrates the effects of
entraining agent were also used. and placed in the moist room (73ºF and curing test specimens in cold tempera-
The measured slump and air content 100% relative humidity) tures.
were 4 inches and 5.9 percent, respectively. 4. Outside until time of test – cylinders 2. Cylinders that were cured by air drying
The initial concrete temperature was 71oF. were placed in covered 5-gallon buckets in the laboratory at ambient tempera-
A total of 32 4x8 cylinders were cast for (2 cylinders per bucket) on the lab load- tures similar to the moist curing resulted
strength tests. Strength tests were planned ing dock; stripped on the earlier of the in a 12 percent reduction in measured
for three, seven, 28 and 90 days with an day of test or at seven days. strength at 28 days, with only a 5 percent
average from two cylinder tests representing The average daily ambient temperature reduction at seven days. But they showed
a strength test result. based on averages from BWI (Baltimore) a 26 percent reduction at 90 days with
and DCA (Reagan National) airports (Col- the 90-day strength slightly lower than
Curing Conditions lege Park is midway) during the first 48 the 28-day strength.
Cylinders were covered with plastic caps hours was in the range of 26 to 28ºF and it 3. Cylinders that were cured for 48 hours in
and cured in the following four methods was below freezing for most of the first seven sub-freezing temperatures followed by
immediately after they were made: days. The average daily temperature during standard moist curing resulted in a 22
1. Standard curing in the lab in accordance the course of the study is indicated on the percent reduction in strength at 28 days.
with ASTM C 31 – cylinders were stored chart below. This represents a potential condition
in the moist room (73ºF and 100% rela- where test cylinders are not protected
tive humidity); stripped at 24 hours Test Results during the initial curing period in the
2. Lab air-dry – cylinders were stored in The compressive strength results through field. However, by 90 days the strength
lab air (73ºF and no humidity control); an age of 28 days are illustrated in the chart reduction was only 10 percent.
stripped at 24 hours and continued to be below and the compressive strength as a per- 4. Cylinders that were kept in external con-
cured in lab air centage of the standard cured cylinders (con- ditions for the period prior to testing,
3. Outside for 48 hours, moist cured – trol) at the various test ages is summarized in where the average ambient daily temper-
cylinders were placed in covered 5-gallon the Table. ature varied in the range of 20 to 45ºF,
resulted in a reduction of strength by 34
percent at 28 days. However, by 90 days
the strength reduction was only 18 per-
cent. It should be pointed out that
between 28 and 90 days the external
temperature varied between 40 to 75oF.
5. Dramatic strength reductions particularly
at early ages (28 days or less) are possible
if the initial curing conditions of ASTM
C 31 are not followed. This can be the
cause for acceptable concrete to be reject-
ed. However, in certain situations by 90
days the lower strengths from non-stan-
dard curing were not as significant.

Hot Weather Conditions

(Series D 338)
In the summer of 2004, the NRMCA
Research Laboratory undertook a simple
Age, Control Percent of control strength at same age experimental study to quantify the effect of
days Strength, psi Lab Air-dry Out 48 h, moist Outside high temperature exposure on concrete com-
(1) (2) (3) (4) pressive strength development. Other tests
1 1508 conducted for supplementary evaluations
were the measurement of the elastic modu-
3 2828 46% 14% lus, sorptivity (a newly approved ASTM test)
and rapid chloride permeability (C 1202).
7 3852 95% 68% 40% A nominal 4000-psi air-entrained con-
crete mixture was prepared and a total of
28 4745 88% 78% 66%
38 4 x 8-inch cylinders were made and
90 5374 74% 90% 82% cured in various conditions immediately
after casting.

58 ı WINTER 2005
Experimental Details trol) at the various test ages is summarized in in strength at 28 days. This represents a
The 2.8 cu. ft. concrete batch was pre- the Table. potential condition where test cylinders
pared at the NRMCA Research Laboratory. The standard cured cylinders gave an are not protected during the initial cur-
The mixture had a cement content of 400 average RCPT value of 1536 coulombs, ing period in the field. By 90 days the
lbs/yd3 and fly ash content of 125 lbs/yd3, which indicates a “Low” chloride ion pene- strength reduction was 16 percent.
at a water-cementitious materials (w/cm) trability (ASTM C 1202), while the outside 4. Cylinders that were kept in external
ratio of 0.52. A Type A water reducer and an cured cylinders gave a higher RCPT value of conditions for the entire period prior to
air entraining agent were also used. 2475 coulombs, which indicates a “Moder- testing, where the average ambient daily
The measured slump and air content ate” chloride ion penetrability. temperature varied in the range of 61 to
were 6.75 inches and 5.6 percent, respective- 83ºF, resulted in a reduction of strength
ly. The initial concrete temperature was 72oF. Conclusions by 16 percent at 28 days and 20 percent
A total of 38 4x8 cylinders were cast. 1. This study demonstrates the effects of by 90 days. The peak daily temperatures
Strength tests were planned for one, three, curing test specimens in high tempera- were in excess of 90ºF on some days.
seven, 28 and 90 days with an average from tures. This does not represent the higher sum-
two cylinder tests representing a strength 2. Cylinders that were cured in a high tem- mer temperatures seen in southern
test result. Rapid chloride permeability tests perature external environment displayed states where the effects of non-standard
in accordance with ASTM C 1202 were 80 percent higher one-day strength as initial curing in the field could have
conducted at an age of 90 days for the stan- compared to the standard cured cylin- been more significant.
dard and outside curing conditions only. ders. The low one-day strength of the 5. The modulus of elasticity did not vary
Static Modulus of Elasticity tests in accor- standard cured cylinders is likely due to very much in the different curing condi-
dance with ASTM C 469 and sorptivity the 24 percent fly ash used in the con- tions.
tests in accordance with the new ASTM C crete and the resulting slower strength 6. The RCPT values measured were
1585 were also conducted. Only the gain in standard curing conditions. much lower for the standard cured
strength and Rapid chloride permeability 3. Cylinders cured for 48 hours in high cylinders, confirming that good curing
test (RCPT) results are discussed here. The temperatures followed by standard moist practices substantially improve con-
sorptivity test will be discussed in greater curing resulted in a 22 percent reduction crete durability. ■
detail in a later article.

Curing Conditions
Cylinders were covered with plastic caps
and cured in the following three methods
immediately after they were made:
1. Standard curing
2. Outside for 48 hours, moist cured
3. Outside until time of test – cylinders
were placed in covered 5-gallon buckets
(2 cylinders per bucket) on the lab load-
ing dock; stripped at 24 hours.
The average daily ambient temperature
based on averages from BWI (Baltimore)
and DCA (Reagan National) airports (Col-
lege Park is midway) during the first 48
hours was in the range of 81 to 83ºF and
the peak daily temperature over the first
seven days was about 89ºF. The average
daily temperature during the course of the Age, Control Percent of control strength at same age
study is indicated on the chart below. The days Strength, psi Out 48 h, moist Outside
average daily temperature was about 10ºF (1) (2) (3)
above the standard curing temperature even 1 784 180% 180%
though the peak temperature ranged over
90ºF on certain days. 3 2370 89% 86%

Test Results 7 3176 81% 90%

The compressive strength results through
28 4384 78% 84%
an age of 90 days are illustrated in the chart
below and the compressive strength as a per- 90 5659 84% 80%
centage of the standard cured cylinders (con-

CONCRETE in focus ı 59