A field-exposure study on the effects of seasonal temperature variations and curing conditions on concrete strength and density
Abstract
The performance of concrete is largely influenced by temperature and curing conditions during the early stages of hydration. While these effects have been extensively investigated under controlled laboratory conditions, field-based experimental evidence remains limited. Therefore, this study investigated the combined effects of seasonal temperature variations and curing conditions on the compressive strength of C30/37 concrete under field conditions. Concrete samples produced at a commercial ready-mix concrete plant were subjected to three curing conditions between March and July: water curing (WC), air curing (AC), and intermittent water curing (IWC). Monthly temperature data were recorded, and the effects of curing conditions and seasonal temperature variations on density and compressive strength were evaluated. The results showed that water curing produced the highest compressive strength (56.36 MPa) and density (2.40 g/cm³), whereas air curing yielded the lowest performance because of greater moisture loss. A negative correlation was observed between temperature and density (R² = 0.87 for AC and 0.81 for IWC), whereas only a weak relationship was found between density and compressive strength, indicating that density alone is not sufficient to explain concrete strength. In addition, variations in compressive strength under similar curing conditions suggest that early-age temperature exposure has a lasting influence on concrete performance. Overall, the results indicate that seasonal temperature variations influence concrete performance by altering hydration and moisture conditions. The findings provide field-based data that complement previous laboratory studies and contribute to a better understanding of concrete behaviour under practical construction-site conditions.
Keywords
References
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