The effects of low temperature curing on the compressive strength of ordinary and high performance concrete

Abstract

In this study, the changing of the compressive strength of ordinary and high performance concrete after having cured at low temperature was investigated experimentally. To accomplish this purpose, concrete specimens of 150 mm diameter and 300 mm high were prepared. After their production the specimens were cured at different conditions for 7 days. Some of them were at 23 ± 2 °C (standard curing); the others were at 10, 5, 0 and −5 °C, respectively. In the 7th day, some of the specimens cured at different temperature (10, 5, 0 and −5 °C) were broken under uniaxial compression. On the other hand, some of the specimens were applied to standard curing during 28 days. In the end of 28 days, compressive strength of all specimens was obtained. According to the results, compressive strength of the specimens at 10 °C and less than 10 °C during 7 days was lower than that of the specimens at standard curing. In the end of 28th day loss of compressive strength of concrete specimens cured at different temperatures were more than that of specimens cured at standard cure.