THE EFFECTS OF CURING DELAY ON THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

Abstract

This project was carried out to determine the effects of curing delay on the compressive strength of concrete, using a 19mm granite (coarse aggregates) from Isheagu. Ebonyi state and uniformly graded sand from Omambara in Anambra state .A total of fifteen concrete cubes with mix ratio of 1:2:4 and the Cement-water ratio of 0.55 were casted and used for the experiment .Three cube were used for each set of samples, each set used for its corresponding curing delay. They are grouped as samples A1,A2,A3 for the zero delay,samples B1,B2,B3 for 7 days delay, samples C1,C2,C3 for 14 days delay, Samples D1,D2,D3 for 21 days delay and samples E1,E2,E3 for 28 days delay. All the samples were cured after their respective curing delay and the tested for its compressive strength on the 28th day. It was discovered that their compressive strength consistently decreased with increased curing delay but the effects is highest at the early age of the concrete (i.e. between sampleswith zero delay and samples with 7 days delay. The final results showed that curing delay leads to a corresponding decrease in the compressive strength in concrete production