Facts:

Since all desirable properties are improved with curing, the period should be as long as practical. For
most concrete structures, the curing period at temperatures above 5º C (40º F) should be a minimum of
7 days or until 70% of the specified compressive or flexural strength is attained. The period can be
reduced to 3 days if high early strength concrete is used and the temperature is above 10º C (50º F).
https://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/courses/ce584/concrete/library/construction/curing/curing.html

Concrete curing is done to increase concrete strength and stability. https://gharpedia.com/cure-

concrete-moist-curing-concrete/

The concrete curing process involves a reaction between Portland cement and water helping on
releasing heat from the concrete at a desired and controlled rate. Without curing, moisture is lost too
quickly and there isn't enough water necessary for the crystals to grow, resulting in weaker concrete.
Juan Rodriguez Updated January 25, 2019 https://www.thebalancesmb.com/highly-recommended-
methods-to-cure-concrete-844449

Curing concrete in cold weather will produce a slower curing procedure, so the concrete is setting
slowly, and bleeding will also start later than expected. Be prepared to handle more bleed water than
regular concrete placement. Juan Rodriguez Updated January 13, 2019
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/expert-tips-on-how-to-cure-concrete-in-cold-weather-845024

Improper curing is one of the factors that have shortened the service life of many
structures and have forced extensive repairs, with huge economic costs. Olusola
Idowu and Leon Black, 2016, http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/120064/2/36th%20CCS%20Sola.pdf

The curing of concrete helps in strength development on the surface of the structural member
rather than the inner part. So, its main effect is not on the strength, but the durability. Since the
outer surface of the concrete is mainly considered for the cover to reinforcement, the effect of
thermal cracks or plastic shrinkage cracks developed due to inadequate curing, on concrete
strength under compressive loads will be much less than the element loaded in flexure. The
structural element size and type of loading decide the effect of inadequate curing.But for the
long-time consideration of durability, the cracks developed makes the concrete surface porous
which becomes the cause of reinforcement corrosion and can affect the concrete strength at a
later stage. What Happens if Concrete is Not Cured Properly?, 2019
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/inadequate-concrete-curing/30895/

Once concrete is placed and finished, it starts to convert from plastic to hard state. The reaction
between cement and water starts from when the water is first added to the dry concrete mix. In
concrete terminology this reaction is called hydration and it does not require a special condition to
occur. When hydration starts, concrete starts to attains compressive strength. The hydration continues
as long as the water is present in the concrete. Once water evaporates from the surface of concrete, the
hydration process slow down or it stops. It may result in development of cracks or reduces the strength
and durability of concrete. To keep the hydration process continues, it is essential to maintain humid
and warm environment around the freshly placed concrete or mortar until it achieves the desired
strength. This process is called as curing of concrete. https://gharpedia.com/checklist-for-curing-of-
concrete/

Curing under different weather conditions

*Under normal weather, the key concerns in curing will be the maintenance of a moist
environment around the concrete. Temperature variations are not a major problem, provided the
concrete temperature is maintained above 5 degrees Celsius. Curing can therefore be achieved
either through maintaining mixing water in the concrete during early hardening or by preventing
moisture loss from the surface by sealing. The ultimate choice of the particular method to use
will take into consideration factors such as economy, esthetics, member shape, etc.

*Under hot weather conditions, the high temperatures are likely to result in excessive moisture
loss. Maintaining mixing water in the concrete is the major concern. Continuous moist curing
should be done for the entire curing period. If this is not possible, the concrete surfaces should be
protected from drying out using any of the previously mentioned methods and the surfaces kept
damp. Surfaces should dry out slowly after curing to reduce possibility of surface cracking.

*Curing in cold weather will be different as in this case the biggest concern will be the
maintaining of an adequate and conducive temperature for hydration. For massive members, the
heat generated by the concrete during hydration will be adequate to provide a satisfactory curing
temperature. For non-massive members, a good alternative is steam curing, which provides both
moisture and heat. In any case, a minimum favorable temperature in the range of 10 - 21º C must
be maintained in the concrete for the minimum required curing period (see below). Where moist
curing is not done, very low temperatures may be avoided by insulating the member
appropriately.
https://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/courses/ce584/concrete/library/construction/curing/curing.html

ADDITIONAL

Maintaining the presence of mixing water

In addition to maintaining a moist environment, the methods discussed here also cool the
concrete in hot weather through evaporation. The amount of water needed (or evaporation rate)
can be computed from the tables if we know the wind speed, temperatures of the air and that of
the concrete. Total water requirement will be the product of the evaporation rate and the exposed
surface area.

Spraying or fogging
This method consists of continuously spraying a fine mist of water through a system of nozzles.
Lawn sprinklers may be used for flat surfaces while soil-soaker hoses are useful on vertical or
nearly vertical surfaces. The method is good when temperatures are well above freezing and
humidity is low. While a constant spray is not essential, care is needed to ensure that the concrete
does not dry out between applications.

Major disadvantages of spraying include the need for large amounts of water and supervision.
Water could also erode the concrete surface if adequate care is not taken.

Conclusion
Moist curing protects the concrete from self-desiccation and is theoretically better than using
sealants (see Preventing loss of mixing water). The former method is however gradually giving
way to the latter which is more laborsaving.

https://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/courses/ce584/concrete/library/construction/curing/Maintaining%2
0mixing%20water.htm

Preventing loss of mixing water

Sealing the concrete surface soon after is has hardened ensures that water is not lost through
evaporation, thereby making it available for cement hydration.

The hardened concrete surface is first thoroughly wetted before the sealant is placed. This is the
water that will be available over the next several days thereby enabling hydration to continue, as
there will be adequate moisture. The convenience and lower labor requirements of these methods
have led them to displace the more traditional water-curing methods in many instances.

Impervious paper
ASTM C171 gives the specifications for the impervious paper to be used in curing concrete. The
paper consists of two sheets of kraft paper cemented together by a bituminous adhesive with
fiber reinforcement. This paper is placed over the wetted concrete and the paper edges
overlapped about 6" and tightly sealed with sand. To avoid moisture escaping into the space
between the sheet and the concrete, the sheets need to maintain close contact with the concrete
surface during the entire curing period. Any convenient material (such as sand) can be used to
achieve this.
The paper can be reused once tears are repaired, or double layers may be used. In hot weather,
light-colored paper is better as it reflects the heat. In cold weather, black paper is better as it
attracts heat thus keeping the concrete warm.

Plastic sheets
Plastic sheets such as polyethylene film are lightweight and easily applied to both complex and
simple shapes. They are therefore more versatile than burlap. The plastic is applied in the same
fashion and according to the same specifications (ASTM C171) as impervious paper.

A disadvantage of the film is that it can cause discoloration when it gets wrinkled. This will be
more pronounced when the concrete contains calcium chloride and has been finished by hard-
steel trowelling. When uniform color is important, other means of curing should be used.
Discoloration may also be prevented by flooding the surface before applying the covering.

Combinations of burlap and plastic will retain water well and eliminate the need for continuously
keeping the burlap wet.

Membrane-forming curing compounds

Liquid membrane-forming compounds are formulated from resins, waxes or synthetic rubber
dissolved in a volatile solvent or emulsified in water. Concrete should normally be wet when the
membrane is applied. Soon after application over the concrete by spraying, the solvent or water
evaporates and leaves behind an impermeable film of sealant. The compounds do not form a
barrier that is as watertight as plastic or waterproof paper. They have however become very
popular in the curing of concrete pavements, floors and even on some vertical surfaces. Often
two coats are needed to ensure an effective vapor barrier. In this case, the second coat is applied
at right angles to the first one.

Pigment is added to the compound during manufacture to make it visible after spraying and thus
judge whether complete coverage has taken place. White or dark pigment may also be added to
control heat reflection or absorption depending on the weather.

Curing compounds are not good for surfaces on which an overlay or topping is to be laid, as they
will interfere with the bonding properties of the two materials. They should also not be used
during construction of pavements that will be exposed to de-icing salts as the membrane retard
air drying, which is needed to improve the salt scaling resistance of the surface.

Membrane specifications are given in ASTM C309.

Forms left in place

Forms may also provide an effective vapor barrier if they are left in place after casting. In this
case the exposed surface of the concrete has to be kept wet using, say, a soil-soaker hose. The
forms should also be kept moist by sprinkling, especially during hot weather.

https://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/courses/ce584/concrete/library/construction/curing/Preventing%20
water%20loss.htm
 Charles Balina
Department of Civil & Environmental
Engineering AUTHOR OF
The Pennsylvania State University WWW.ENGR.PSU.EDU
University Park, PA 16802

CONCRETE PROBLEMS THAT CAN BE CURED BY CURING:

Concrete is a relatively easy material to manage. However, you can run into huge problems if it is not
worked on properly. Concrete problems vary but could include discolorations, shrinkage, scaling, and
various other problems.

Crazing

Sergey Ryumin / Getty Images

One of the most repeated problems in concrete is crazing. Crazing occurs when the surface
shows several interconnected fine cracks or when the cement paste comes up to the surface and
shrinks. Although the concrete strength probably is not affected, cracks will show up when the
slab is damp.

How to avoid crazed concrete:

 Cure the concrete in a timely manner

 Use a moderate slump concrete without bleeding and segregation
 Do not finish concrete until all water has evaporated
 Do not dust dry cement on the surface while water is present
  Do not sprinkle water over the concrete while finishing it
 If the weather could produce high evaporation rates, spray some water onto the subgrade,
so it will not absorb the water from the concrete mix

Cracking

Simon McGill / Getty Images

Concrete can crack easily. It's unpreventable, however, it can be controlled. This is one of the
main problems when constructing with concrete. Cracking can be the result of one or a
combination of factors, such as drying shrinkage, thermal contraction, subgrade settlement, and
applied loads. In the case of a wall, if a crack is not structural, or not too wide ( the acceptable
crack width is subjective but it could range from 1/16” to 1/4”), or isn't leaking water, it
should be considered acceptable.

How to reduce cracking of concrete:

 Remove topsoil, soft spots and organic material in the subgrade

 Compact all loose soil underneath the concrete slab
 Slope the subgrade for proper drainage
 Design a flexible concrete pavement that could accommodate load and movements
 Install concrete joints accordingly by sawing, forming or tooling a groove
 Place, finish and cure concrete accordingly depending on the weather conditions
 Do not finish concrete if it has not finished bleeding
  Do not overwork concrete surface
 Avoid rapid drying conditions or use a set retardant admixture
 Minimize the mix water content by maximizing the size and amount of coarse aggregate and use
low-shrinkage aggregate

Cracking

Simon McGill / Getty Images

Concrete can crack easily. It's unpreventable, however, it can be controlled. This is one of the
main problems when constructing with concrete. Cracking can be the result of one or a
combination of factors, such as drying shrinkage, thermal contraction, subgrade settlement, and
applied loads. In the case of a wall, if a crack is not structural, or not too wide ( the acceptable
crack width is subjective but it could range from 1/16” to 1/4”), or isn't leaking water, it
should be considered acceptable.

How to reduce cracking of concrete:

 Remove topsoil, soft spots and organic material in the subgrade

 Compact all loose soil underneath the concrete slab
 Slope the subgrade for proper drainage
 Design a flexible concrete pavement that could accommodate load and movements
 Install concrete joints accordingly by sawing, forming or tooling a groove
 Place, finish and cure concrete accordingly depending on the weather conditions
 Do not finish concrete if it has not finished bleeding
 Do not overwork concrete surface
 Avoid rapid drying conditions or use a set retardant admixture
 Minimize the mix water content by maximizing the size and amount of coarse aggregate and use
low-shrinkage aggregate

Curling
Concrete curling occurs when there is a difference in both temperature and moisture of the top
and bottom surface. When curling occurs, the slab of the surface becomes unsupported from the
base.

How to avoid concrete curling:

 Use proper curling techniques

 Place concrete joints accordingly
 Use low water content or use water reducing admixtures
 Use the largest possible aggregate size
 Ensure proper bonding when applying thin topping mixes
 Use enough, not excessive, amount of steel reinforcement in the slab
 Place concrete on a damp but absorptive sub-grade so that all the bleed water is not forced to
the top of the slab

Juan Rodriguez Updated September 28, 2018 https://www.thebalancesmb.com/common-concrete-

problems-844465

Tips on How to Cure Concrete in Cold Weather

Try these recommended tips for curing concrete during winter:

 Maintain a proper water-cement ratio. The water to cement ratio should not be more than 0.40
under freezing conditions.
 If temperatures are too cold, a propane heater and polyethylene enclosure could be used to
maintain temperatures hot enough, to avoid the freezing point.
 Use Portland cement Type III, cement that helps in setting without reducing concrete’s quality. It
is important because high moisture content can induce corrosion problems in steel
reinforcement.
 Control chloride ions by using fly ash, silica fume, and furnace slag
 Juan Rodriguez Updated January 13, 2019 https://www.thebalancesmb.com/expert-tips-on-
how-to-cure-concrete-in-cold-weather-845024

EFFECT OF IMPROPER CURING

Improper curing usually leads to very weak and porous materials near the surface of the
concrete which is vulnerable to ingress of various harmful substances from the
environment. The impact of improper curing is commonly measured by
the impact on strength development, and such instances may not
appear to demonstrably affect the concrete quality and is not
appropriate parameter to measure durability of a structure. Olusola
Idowuand Dr. L. Black 2015,
http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/97012/3/New%20ccs%20abstract%2020
15%20docx%204%20sub.pdf
When concrete is not cured properly, its durability, strength and abrasive resistance are affected.
Due to inadequate curing, concrete develops plastic shrinkage cracks, thermal cracks, along with
a considerable loss in the strength of the surface layer. When the surface of the concrete is not
kept moist within the first 24 hours after the casting, the evaporation from the exposed horizontal
surface results in plastic shrinkage cracks and a weak and dusty surface.

An excessive temperature difference between the outer and the inner layers of the concrete
results in thermal cracking due to restraint to contraction of the cooling outer layers from the
warmer inner concrete.

When concrete is allowed to freeze before minimum degree of hardening is achieved after
casting, the concrete gets permanently damaged due to expansion of water within the concrete as
it freezes. This results in irretrievable strength loss and makes concrete porous. Inadequate
curing of concrete results in the loss of properties of the surface layer of concrete up to 30–50
mm, not meeting the requirements of the design in terms of durability, strength and abrasion
resistance. Gopal Mishra, 2018, https://theconstructor.org/concrete/inadequate-concrete-
curing/30895/

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF IMPROPER CURING?

Suryakanta | July 25, 2014 |

Effects of Improper Curing

Following are the major disadvantages of improper curing of concrete:

1. The chances of ingress of chlorides and atmospheric chemicals are very high
2. The compressive strength and flexural strengths are lowered.
3. The cracks are formed due to plastic shrinkage, drying shrinkage and thermal effects.
4. The durability decreases due to higher permeability.
5. The frost and weathering resistances are decreased.
6. The rate of carbonation increases.
7. The surfaces are coated with sand and dust and it leads to lower the abrasion resistance.

The above disadvantages are more prominent in those parts of structures which are either directly
exposed or those which have large surfaces compared to depth such as roads, canals, bridges,
cooling towers, chimneys etc. it is therefore necessary to protect the large exposed surfaces even
before setting. Otherwise it may lead to a pattern of fine cracks.
https://civilblog.org/2014/07/25/what-are-the-effects-of-improper-curing/

Ideally, the durability of concrete should not be a concern. Some degree of

weathering should be expected, but improper concreting procedures can cause the
deterioration to be earlier than expected. The compressive strength of concrete
plays a fundamental role in the design and construction of concrete structures.
Concrete performance should be judged by strength and durability properties. One
of the most important parameters influencing the durability of concrete is its
permeability. It dictates the extent to which concrete can be affected by external
agents. Permeability of concrete determines the ease with which liquids, gases and
dissolved deleterious substances such as chloride or sulphate ions or carbon
dioxide, can penetrate the concrete. It is also related to the degradation caused by
freezing and thawing since it controls the ease with which concrete can be saturated
with water. The performance of concrete structures against various forms of
deterioration is largely dependent on the ability of the concretes to resist the ingress
of various harmful substances from the environment. 2 The pore structure is one of
the most important properties that affected the durability of a concrete and this can
be measured by sorptivity (Gopalan, 1996).Sorptivity is greatly influenced by the
curing of concrete. Improper curing usually leads to very weak and porous materials
near the surface of the concrete which is vulnerable to ingress of various harmful
substances from the environment. Olusola Idowu and Leon Black, 2016,
http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/120064/2/36th%20CCS%20Sola.pdf

IMPORTANCE OF CURING

Reference:

“How to Cure Concrete by Wet Covering (Moist Curing Concrete)?“ (2019), How to Cure Concrete by
Wet Covering (Moist Curing Concrete)? Retrieved April 2, 2019, from https://gharpedia.com/cure-
concrete-moist-curing-concrete/

Idowu, O. & Black, L. (2016), Effects of improper concrete curing on engineering performance: a
microstructural study, Retrieved April 2, 2019, from
http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/120064/2/36th%20CCS%20Sola.pdf

Suryakanta (2014), What are the effects of improper curing?, Retrieved April 2, 2019, from
https://civilblog.org/2014/07/25/what-are-the-effects-of-improper-curing/

Idowu, O. & Black, L. (n.d.), Effects of Improper Curing on Concrete Durability, Retrieved April 2, 2019,
from
http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/97012/3/New%20ccs%20abstract%202015%20docx%204%20sub.pdf

Rodriguez, J. (2019), Curing Concrete in Cold Weather, Retrieved April 2, 2019, from
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/expert-tips-on-how-to-cure-concrete-in-cold-weather-845024

Rodriguez, J. (2018), How to Solve Common Concrete Problems, Retrieved April 2, 2019, from
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/common-concrete-problems-844465

“How to Cure Concrete by Wet Covering (Moist Curing Concrete)?” (2019), How to Cure Concrete by
Wet Covering (Moist Curing Concrete)?, Retrieved April 2, 2019, from https://gharpedia.com/cure-
concrete-moist-curing-concrete/
Rodriguez, J. (2019), How to Cure Concrete with Water and Plastic Membranes, Retrieved April 2, 2019,
from https://www.thebalancesmb.com/highly-recommended-methods-to-cure-concrete-844449

Mishra, G. (2018), What Happens if Concrete is Not Cured Properly?, Retrieved April 2, 2019, from
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/inadequate-concrete-curing/30895/