A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science of the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1978

This investigation was focused on the effects of curing conditions on the compressive strength, modulus of rupture, tensile strength by splitting test, modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio of concrete. Concrete samples were cured at fog room (24°c), normal (28°c) and tropical (40°c) temperatures. In addition, three atmospheric steam curing conditions which involved two s l ow and one rapid temperature rise cycles were used. Testing of concrete was carried out at ages varying from one to twenty eight days . The physical properties were plotted against maturity; which is defined as the product of temperature measured from -10°c and time. Generally, fog room and normal cured concretes possessed the same physical properties. Tropically cured concrete had a slightly better quality than the fog room and normal cured concretes. Atmospheric steam curing with a slow temperature rise produced' a slightly better quality concrete than that with a rapid temperature rise. Steam cured concrete had a lower compressive strength than that of the corresponding normal at medium (14 days) and high maturities (28 days onwards). On the contrary, concrete subjected to steam curing showed higher tensile strength than concrete which was subjected to normal curing, especially for high strength concrete.