Different Methods of Curing of Concrete

DIFFERENT METHODS
OF CURING OF
CONCRETE
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
Effect Of Different Curing Methods On The
Strength Of Concrete
ABSTRACT
Normal concrete was prepared with a water-
cement ratio of 0.50. cube specimens were
cast for testing the compressive strength at 7
and 28 days of curing respectively using three
curing methods namely immersion, sprinkling
and Plastic sheeting, curing to cure the cube
specimens until the day of testing. Test results
indicates that water curing (WAC) as well as
sprinkling (spraying) curing provided much
better results than membrane (Plastic
Sheeting) method of curing. The rate of drying
was significant when the specimens were
subjected to membrane (Plastic sheeting)
method of curing.
1. Water curing was themost effective method
of curing. It produced the highest level of
compressive strength. This is due to improve
pore structure and lower porosity resulting
from greater degree of cement hydration
reaction without any loss of moisture from the
concrete specimens.
2. Sprinkling method of curing produces higher
compressive strength than plastic sheeting.
This is attributed reduced the moisture
movement from concrete specimens leading to
enhanced degree of cement hydration.
3. Plastic sheeting method of curing produces
lowest level of compressive strength. This is
because the moisture movement from the
concrete specimen is higher in plastic sheeting
method, which did not provide and any
protection against early drying out of concrete.
Hence hydration of cement reaction was
abated.
4. The extent of moisture movement was
greatly dependent of the method of curing.
Greater moisture movement occurs under
plastic sheeting (membrane) method, and it
significantly affected the strength property of
the concrete.
5. Normal concrete should be cured by water
curing (immersion) method in order to achieve
good hardened properties. Water curing
produces no loss of moisture, and therefore
enhances cement hydration reaction. In case of
water shortage, sprinkling curing can be
adopted instead of wrapped (plastic sheeting)
curing.

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DIFFERENT METHODS

Whenever bitumen is applied over the surface for

This method of curing does not need constant

These methods can best be used in pre cast

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