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EFFECT OF NON-STANDARD CURING METHODS ON THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF LATERIZED CONCRETE

Thirty concrete mixes of differing water-binder ratio containing 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 % laterite as a partial replacement for sand were used to prepare laterized concrete specimens for the study of the effect of nonstandard curing methods on the strength of specimen. The effectiveness of a curing method was measured quantitatively as the ratio of the compressive strength of specimen cured using the non-standard method to those cursed using the standard water-curing method specified in the BS1881: Part 3:1970 (control). The results of the investigation show that with continuous wetting of the nonstandard curing media by sprinkling with water, the strength of the concrete obtained could be comparable to those cured using the control method. Of the four nonstandard curing methods considered in the study it was observed that the strength of sand- and sawdust-cured specimen were in some instances the same as or higher than those of the standard cured specimens at early age (7 days). Although at later age (28 days) there were significant differences between the strength of specimens cured using the nonstandard methods and those of corresponding laterite content and water-binder ratio cured using the control method as established by t-test, the designed strength of 20 MPa was attained by all specimens cured using the nonstandard methods, which is indicative that these nonstandard methods could be used as alternative to the standard water curing, especially in situations where much water may not be available for curing specimens.