Curing of Concrete ll Curing Methods

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Curing of concrete or concrete curing is the process in which water is sparked over the freshly laid concrete for a certain duration of time to allow it to complete the chemical reaction to attain the required strength. Curing of concrete helps to gain the required strength and helps to decrease the permeability of hardened concrete.

Why the curing of concrete is required?

Purpose or Importance of concrete curing.

For a different form of cement concrete, there are different curing methods and purposes. As we know concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, aggregates, and water. To increase its strength different admixtures are used according to the requirements. Since the ratio of water-cement determines the strength of concrete. So, after pouring the concrete if the water inside the concrete gets evaporated, the required amount of water will not available for the chemical reaction and hence concrete will not gain the purposed strength. Due to the curing of concrete, the temperature during the hydration process is decreased. Curing also helps to develop impermeable, crack-free and durable concrete.

Different methods for Concrete Curing

Depending upon the structure type different ways are adopted for curing. According to the requirement, the curing is done as follows:

  1. Water Curing
    1. Wet Covering
    2. Ponding
    3. Sprinkling
  2. Steam Curing
  3. Membrane Curing
    1. Plastic sheeting
    2. Formwork

Time period requires to cure different concrete

1. Curing for General Cement Concrete work

Newly fresh laid concrete should be protected from rain, sun, wind, etc. After 1 to 2 hours of laying when concrete began to harden, moist gunny bags, sands, etc are used to protect the concrete from quick drying. After 24 hours, either by Ponding, Sprinkling, fogging & Wet coverings the curing is done. It must be done for a minimum of 14 days to get assumed strength.

2. Curing of Reinforcement Cement Curing (RCC Curing)

Freshly laid concrete should be protected from rain by suitable covering. After concrete started to harden, i.e about 1 to 2 hours after laying, it should be protected with moist gunny bags or any other things according to engineer recommendation. After 24 hours of laying, the surface should be flooded with water of about 25mm depth. The curing may be done for a minimum period of 14days.

3. Brick wall (Brickwork) Curing

The brickwork should be kept wet for at least 10 days after laying. Wetting the brickworks is either done by keeping wet jute bags or spraying water over it.

4. Cement Plaster Curing

After 3-4 hours of laying, the surface should be covered with wet gunny bags and left undisturbed for 4 days with water curing continued. The plaster shall be cured for 5-7 days.

5. Curing for Damp proof course Work (DPC Curing)

Damp proof course work is kept wet for at least 7 days if any brickwork is not ready to produce further.
Note: No brickwork should be done on the freshly laid damp proof course unless OPC has been flooded with water for at least 48 hours.
Freshly laid concrete should be protected from rain by suitable covering and after concrete started harden i.e about 1 to 2 hours after laying, as per the direction of engineer either it should be covered with moist gunny bags or other materials.

After 24 hrs of laying concrete, the surface is cured by flooding with water of about 25mm depth. The curing may be done for a minimum period of 14 days.

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