ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT In this study, in order to evaluate effect of curing temperature on mechanical strength of concrete, 142 concrete samples have been tested. For compressive strength, 48 cubic concrete samples (100 mm) at ages 3, 7, 28 and 90 days, for Brazilian tensile, 48 cylindrical concrete samples (diameter: 100 mm and height: 150 mm) strength at ages 3, 7, 28 and 90 days and for flexural strength, 36 cubic concrete samples (40 × 40 × 160 mm) at ages 28 and 56 days were made. In order to make a samples, in the first step, samples at 5, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55°C for 22 hours inside the compartment temperature control were cured. To retain the moisture, the samples were kept inside sealed plastic bags out of the water in 20 ± 2°C temperature and at the desired age were tested. Results showed that the effect of temperature changes on the concrete samples is function of the age of concrete. Increasing of the curing temperature at an early age increases the tested mechanical strengths. In the older age groups, with increasing in the curing temperature to the optimal temperature the tested mechanical strengths were increased while on higher temperature above optimum temperature results showed a decline in the value of the strengths. In totally the best curing temperature for achieving the highest compressive, tensile and flexural strength, around 15 to 35°C evaluated.
