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ABSTRACT
This study seeks to assess the effect of improper curing methods on the strength development and durability of concrete and to determine the most proper methods that is/are essential for concrete to obtain structural and durability properties and for optimum concrete performance This study investigated the effect of improper curing methods on the strength development and durability of concrete with a high strength class concrete (C40) as case study. The concrete cubes were cured for 7, 14 21 and 28 days under three different methods of curing namely; curing by immersion (wet), open air (dry) curing and a 3 days wet curing followed by open air curing (combination of both wet and dry curing methods). There was no replacements in the concrete mix using a cement grade 42.5. Various tests including compressive strength test and water absorption test was carried out on the concrete cubes with respect to the different methods of curing. The compressive strength tests were carried out at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days curing period with the wet+Air cured concrete cubes gaining the highest compressive strength and the dry cured cubes the least compressive strength. the water absorption test carried out on the concrete cubes procured for 28days showed that the dry cured cubes is more readily to absorb water while the 28day wet cured concrete absorbed the least amount of water. This shows that open air dry curing is the most improper of the remaining curing methods which yields a decline in compressive strength development and least durable in unfavorable environment, followed by the wet or total immersion method, leaving the combination of wet + Air method of concrete curing as preferred in this study.
