Contribution of early thermal gradient within final set period and curing methods on ordinary cement concrete compressive strength with the aid of maturity concept

Abstract

The present research aims to study by using maturity concept (due to internal thermal for concrete with its age) critical effect of early thermal gradient during final setting period on ordinary cement concrete compressive strength of Standard cylindrical ∅ 150 * 300 mm concrete sealed specimens (( content by weight 400 kg/m3 cement) subjected to a temperature of 4˚C for the duration of final setting times ( 6-8 hrs. ) then later (removing sealed) on to standard temperature of 20 ˚C for the duration of 1 to 360 days at moisture and air cured conditions to be finally tested in compression at the prementioned dates . The same procedure was exactly repeated but the concrete specimens subjected to 50˚C at the final setting times . The final outcome showed that generally if the maturity values least fluctuated due to each others and more regularity during first three days , upper later compressive strength . development in strength was slower for the specimens subjected to 4˚C than those at 50˚C at the initial setting times but,beyond the age of 7 days until 360 days the compressive strength gains more in strength for the specimens subjected to 4˚C than those at 50˚C as compared with same mixture subjected to 20˚C .