Methods For Curing Of Concrete

Published by Suryakanta on May 16, 2014 | Leave a response

There are various methods of curing. The adoption of a particular method will
depend upon the nature of work and the climatic conditions. The following
methods of curing of concrete are generally adopted.

Curing of Concrete
o

Shading concrete work

Covering concrete surfaces with hessian or gunny bags

Sprinkling of water

Ponding method

Membrane curing

Steam curing

Shading Of Concrete Work

The object of shading concrete work is to prevent the evaporation of water from
the surface even before setting. This is adopted mainly in case of large concrete
surfaces such as road slabs. This is essential in dry weather to protect the concrete
from heat, direct sun rays and wind. It also protects the surface from rain. In cold
weather shading helps in preserving the heat of hydration of cement thereby
preventing freezing of concrete under mild frost conditions. Shading may be
achieved by using canvas stretched on frames. This method has a limited
application only.

Covering Concrete Surfaces With Hessian or

Gunny Bags
This is a widely used method of curing, particularly for structural concrete. Thus
exposed surface of concrete is prevented from drying out by covering it with
hessian, canvas or empty cement bags. The covering over vertical and sloping
surfaces should be secured properly. These are periodically wetted. The interval
of wetting will depend upon the rate of evaporation of water. It should be ensured
that the surface of concrete is not allowed to dry even for a short time during the
curing period. Special arrangements for keeping the surface wet must be made at
nights and on holidays.

Sprinkling of Water
Sprinkling of water continuously on the concrete surface provides an efficient
curing. It is mostly used for curing floor slabs. The concrete should be allowed to
set sufficiently before sprinkling is started. The spray can be obtained from a
perforated plastic box. On small jobs sprinkling of water may be done by hand.
Vertical and sloping surfaces can be kept continuously wet by sprinkling water on
top surfaces and allowing it to run down between the forms and the concrete. For
this method of curing the water requirement is higher.

Ponding Method
This is the best method of curing. It is suitable for curing horizontal surfaces such
as floors, roof slabs, road and air field pavements. The horizontal top surfaces of
beams can also be ponded. After placing the concrete, its exposed surface is first
covered with moist hessian or canvas. After 24 hours, these covers are removed
and small ponds of clay or sand are built across and along the pavements. The
area is thus divided into a number of rectangles. The water is filled between the
ponds. The filling of water in these ponds is done twice or thrice a day, depending
upon the atmospheric conditions. Though this method is very efficient, the water
requirement is very heavy. Ponds easily break and water flows out. After curing it
is difficult to clean the clay.

Membrane Curing
The method of curing described above come under the category of moist curing.
Another method of curing is to cover the wetted concrete surface by a layer of
water proof material, which is kept in contact with the concrete surface of seven
days. This method of curing is termed as membrane curing. A membrane will
prevent the evaporation of water from the concrete. The membrane can be either
in solid or liquid form. They are also known as sealing compounds. Bituminised
water proof papers, wax emulsions, bitumen emulsions and plastic films are the
common types of membrane used.
Whenever bitumen is applied over the surface for curing, it should be done only
after 24 hours curing with gunny bags. The surface is allowed to dry out so that
loose water is not visible and then the liquid asphalt sprayed throughout. The
moisture in the concrete is thus preserved. It is quite enough for curing.
This method of curing does not need constant supervision. It is adopted with
advantage at places where water is not available in sufficient quantity for wet
curing. This method of curing is not efficient as compared with wet curing
because rate of hydration is less. Moreover the strength of concrete cured by any
membrane is less than the concrete which is moist cured. When membrane is
damaged the curing is badly affected.

Steam Curing
Steam curing and hot water curing is sometimes adopted. With these methods of
curing, the strength development of concrete is very rapid.
These methods can best be used in pre cast concrete work. In steam curing the
temperature of steam should be restricted to a maximum of 750C as in the absence
of proper humidity (about 90%) the concrete may dry too soon. In case of hot
water curing, temperature may be raised to any limit, ay 1000C.
At this temperature, the development of strength is about 70% of 28 days
strength after 4 to 5 hours. In both cases, the temperature should be fully
controlled to avoid non-uniformity. The concrete should be prevented from rapid
drying and cooling which would form cracks

Curing of Concrete Techniques for

Different Structures
Adding water to Portland cement to form the water-cement paste that
holds concrete together starts a chemical reaction that makes the paste into a
bonding agent. This reaction, called hydration, produces a stone-like substancethe
hardened cement paste. Both the rate and degree of hydration, and the resulting
strength of the final concrete, depend on the curing process that follows placing and
consolidating the plastic concrete.
Hydration continues indefinitely at a decreasing rate as long as the mixture contains
water and the temperature conditions are favorable. Once the water is removed,
hydration ceases and cannot be restarted. Curing is the period of time from
consolidation to the point where the concrete reaches its design strength. During
this period, you must take certain steps to keep the concrete moist and as near 73F
as practical.
The properties of concrete, such as freeze and thaw resistance, strength, watertightness, wear resistance, and volume stability, cure or improve with age as long as
you maintain the moisture and temperature conditions favorable to continued
hydration. The length of time that you must protect concrete against moisture loss

depends on the type of cement used, mix proportions, required strength, size and
shape of the concrete mass, weather, and future exposure conditions. The period
can vary from a few days to a month or longer. For most structural use, the
curing period for cast-in-place concrete is usually 3 days to 2 weeks. This
period depends on such conditions as temperature, cement type, mix proportions,
and so forth. Bridge decks and other slabs exposed to weather and chemical attack
usually require longer curing periods. Figure (1) shows how moist curing affects the
compressive strength of concrete.

CONCRETE CURING METHODS

Several curing methods will keep concrete moist and, favorable hydration
temperature.

Figure (1) Moist curing effect on compressive strength of concrete.

They fall into two categories: those that supply additional moisture and those that
prevent moisture loss. Table below lists several of these methods and their
advantages and disadvantages.

METHOD
Sprinkling with

ADVANTAGE
Excellent results if kept

DISADVANTAGES
Likelihood of drying between

Water or
Covering with
Burlap

constantly wet

sprinklings; difficult on
vertical walls

Straw

Insulator in winter

Can dry out, blow away, or burn

Moist Earth

Cheap but messy

Stains concrete; can

removal problem

Pending on Flat
Surfaces

Excellent results, maintains

uni- form temperature

Requires considerable labor;

un- desirable in freezing weather

Curing
Compounds

Easy to apply and

inexpensive

Sprayer needed; inadequate

coverage allows drying out;
film can be broken or tracked off
before curing is completed;
unless pig- mented, can allow
concrete to get too hot

Waterproof Paper

Excellent
prevents

Heavy cost can be excessive; must

drying be kept in rolls;
storage and handling problem

Plastic Film

Absolutely watertight, excellent

protection. Light and easy to
handle

protection,

dry

out;

Should be pigmented for heat

protection; requires reasonable
care and tears must be patched;
must be weighed down to
prevent blowing away

Methods that Supply Additional Moisture:

Methods that Supply Additional Moisture: Methods that supply additional
moisture include sprinkling and wet covers. Both these methods add moisture to the
concrete surface during the early hardening or curing period. They also provide
some cooling through evaporation. This is especially important in hot weather.
Sprinkling continually with water is an excellent way to cure concrete. However, if
you sprinkle at intervals, do not allow the concrete to dry out between applications.
The disadvantages of this method are the expense involved and volume of water
required. Wet covers, such as straw, earth, burlap, cotton mats, and other moistureretaining fabrics, are used extensively in curing concrete. Figure (2) shows a typical
application of wet burlap. Lay the wet coverings as soon as the concrete hardens
enough to prevent surface damage. Leave them in place and keep them moist
during the entire curing period. If practical, horizontal placements can be flooded by

creating an earthen dam around the edges and submerging the entire concrete
structure in water.

Figure (2) Curing a wall with wet burlap sacks.

Methods that Prevent Moisture Loss.
Methods that prevent moisture loss include laying waterproof paper, plastic film, or
liquid- membrane-forming compounds, and simply leaving forms in place. All
prevent moisture loss by sealing the surface. Waterproof paper (figure (3)) can be
used to cure horizontal surfaces and structural concrete having relatively simple
shapes. The paper should be large enough to cover both the surfaces and the edges
of the concrete. Wet the surface with a fine water spray before covering.

Figure (3) Waterproof paper used for curing.

Lap adjacent sheets 12 inches or more and weigh their edges down to form a
continuous cover with closed joints. Leave the coverings in place during the entire
curing period. Plastic film materials are sometimes used to cure concrete. They
provide lightweight, effective moisture barriers that are easy to apply to either
simple or complex shapes. However, some thin plastic sheets may discolor hardened
concrete, especially if the surface was steel-troweled to a hard finish. The coverage,
overlap, weighing down of edges, and surface wetting requirements of plastic film
are similar to those of waterproof paper. Curing compounds are suitable not only for
curing fresh concrete, but to further cure concrete following form removal or initial
moist curing. You can apply them with spray equipment, such as hand-operated
pressure sprayers, to odd slab widths or shapes of fresh concrete, and to exposed
concrete surfaces following form removal. If there is heavy rain within 3 hours of
application, you must respray the surface. You can use brushes to apply curing
compound to formed surfaces, but do not use brushes on unformed concrete
because of the risk of marring the surface, opening the surface to too much
compound penetration, and breaking the surface film continuity. These compounds
permit curing to continue for long periods while the concrete is in use. Because
curing compounds can prevent a bond from forming between hardened and fresh
concrete, do not use them if a bond is necessary. Forms provide adequate protection
against moisture loss if you keep the exposed concrete surfaces wet. Keep wood
forms moist by sprinkling, especially during hot, dry weather

Making and curing concrete

Recommended mix
proportions for good Good concrete can be obtained by using a wide variety of mix proportions if proper
mix design procedures are used. A good general rule to use is the rule of 6's:

concrete

Curing concrete

A minimum cement content of 6 bags per cubic yard of concrete,

A maximum water content of 6 gallons per bag of cement,
A curing period (keeping concrete moist) a minimum of 6 days, and
An air content of 6 percent (if concrete will be subject to freezing and
thawing).

Curing is one of the most important steps in concrete construction, because proper
curing greatly increases concrete strength and durability. Concrete hardens as a
result of hydration: the chemical reaction between cement and water. However,
hydration occurs only if water is available and if the concrete's temperature stays
within a suitable range. During the curing period (from five to seven days after
placement for conventional concrete) the concrete surface needs to be kept moist to
permit the hydration process. New concrete can be wet with soaking hoses,
sprinklers or covered with wet burlap, or can be coated with commercially available
curing compounds, which seal in moisture.

Effects from

Temperature extremes make it difficult to properly cure concrete. On hot days, too

temperature

much water is lost by evaporation from newly placed concrete. If the temperature
drops too close to freezing, hydration slows to nearly a standstill. Under these
conditions, concrete ceases to gain strength and other desirable properties. In
general, the temperature of new concrete should not be allowed to fall below 50
Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) during the curing period.

Adding air to

Air-entrained concrete contains billions of microscopic air cells per cubic foot. These

concrete to help

air pockets relieve internal pressure on the concrete by providing tiny chambers for

when it freezes

water to expand into when it freezes. Air-entrained concrete is produced through the
use of air-entraining portland cement, or by the introduction of air-entraining agents,
under careful engineering supervision as the concrete is mixed on the job. The

amount of entrained air is usually between 4 percent and 7 percent of the volume of
the concrete, but may be varied as required by special conditions.

Concrete can harden Portland cement is a hydraulic cement which means that it sets and hardens due to a
under water

chemical reaction with water. Consequently, it will harden under water.