CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Introduction
This chapter presents the summary, conclusion, and recommendations of the study on the

Strength Response of In-Situ Concrete Under Common Construction Curing Conditions.

The summary provides an overview of the objectives, methodology, and major findings of the

research. The conclusion highlights the key outcomes drawn from the experimental results,

while the recommendations suggest practical measures that can improve concrete curing

practices on construction sites. The chapter also outlines areas where further research may be

carried out to expand knowledge on the influence of curing methods on concrete performance.

5.1 Summary
This study investigated the Strength Response of In-Situ Concrete Under Common

Construction Curing Conditions. The motivation for the study was the observation that curing

is often poorly carried out on many construction sites, despite its importance in concrete

strength development. Since curing directly affects cement hydration, poor curing can reduce

the final strength and durability of concrete structures.

A preliminary site survey was carried out on five active construction sites within Kurutie

community to identify the curing methods commonly used by local masons. The survey

revealed that the most common practices were water sprinkling, polythene covering and, in

some cases, no curing at all. Full water immersion was included in the study as the control

because it represents the standard laboratory curing method.

36 concrete cubes measuring 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm were cast using a 1:2:4 concrete

mix with a water-cement ratio of 0.60. The cubes were divided equally among four curing

methods: Full Water Immersion (FWI), Water Sprinkling (WS), Polythene Covering (PC) and

Air Curing (AC). Compressive strength tests were carried out after 7, 14 and 28 days.
The results showed that all the curing methods experienced an increase in strength with age.

However, the amount of strength gained depended on the curing method. Full Water Immersion

consistently produced the highest compressive strength throughout the study. Water Sprinkling

also produced satisfactory strength but remained slightly lower than Full Water Immersion.

Polythene Covering gave moderate strength values, indicating that moisture retention

improved hydration even without additional water. Air Curing produced the lowest

compressive strength throughout the testing period because the concrete was allowed to lose

moisture rapidly after casting.

At 28 days, the average compressive strengths obtained were 21.93 MPa for Full Water

Immersion, 19.46 MPa for Water Sprinkling, 15.85 MPa for Polythene Covering and 10.63

MPa for Air Curing. When compared with the control, Water Sprinkling achieved about 89%

of the strength of Full Water Immersion, while Polythene Covering and Air Curing achieved

approximately 72% and 48%, respectively.

Overall, the study confirms that the curing method adopted on site has a significant influence

on the compressive strength developed by concrete.

5.2 Conclusion
Based on the experimental results obtained, it can be concluded that curing plays a major role

in the strength development of in-situ concrete. Adequate curing allows cement hydration to

continue, producing a denser concrete structure with higher compressive strength. Conversely,

inadequate curing limits hydration and permanently reduces the strength that concrete can

achieve.

Among the four curing methods investigated, Full Water Immersion produced the highest

compressive strength at every testing age and therefore remains the most effective curing

method. Water Sprinkling also performed well and provided strength values that were
reasonably close to those obtained under Full Water Immersion. This suggests that regular and

consistent water sprinkling can serve as a practical alternative where continuous immersion is

not possible.

Polythene Covering produced better results than Air Curing because it reduced moisture loss

from the concrete surface. Although it did not perform as well as the water-based curing

methods, it demonstrated that moisture retention alone can contribute significantly to strength

development.

Air Curing recorded the lowest compressive strength throughout the study and showed the least

improvement with increasing curing age. This indicates that exposing freshly cast concrete

without any curing treatment prevents proper hydration and results in concrete with poor

structural performance.

The findings of this study agree with previous research that maintaining adequate moisture

during the curing period is essential for achieving the desired compressive strength of concrete.

More importantly, the study demonstrates that the curing practices commonly observed on

construction sites can have a substantial effect on the quality and performance of completed

concrete structures.

5.3 Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

1. Contractors and site supervisors should ensure that concrete is properly cured

immediately after demoulding (24 hours after cast) to promote continuous hydration

and achieve the required design strength.

2. Where facilities are available, Full Water Immersion should continue to be used for

curing laboratory test cubes because it provides the highest and most reliable

compressive strength.
 3. For structural elements on construction sites where immersion is impractical, regular

Water Sprinkling should be adopted and maintained consistently throughout the curing

period.

4. Polythene Covering may be used where water is scarce, or continuous watering cannot

be guaranteed. However, the covering should completely seal the concrete surface and

be inspected regularly to ensure it remains intact.

5. Air Curing should not be adopted as a curing method for structural concrete because it

leads to significant reductions in compressive strength and may affect the long-term

performance of concrete structures.

6. Construction companies should provide adequate training for site personnel on the

importance of curing so that curing activities are not neglected after concrete placement.

7. Project consultants and supervising engineers should include regular inspection of

curing practices as part of routine site quality control.

5.4 Suggestions for Further Studies

common curing methods. Future researchers may consider extending the study in the following

areas:

1. Investigating the effect of different curing methods on the tensile and flexural strength

of concrete.

2. Studying the influence of curing methods on concrete durability properties such as

permeability, water absorption and resistance to sulphate or chloride attack.

3. Evaluating the performance of different curing methods using higher concrete grades

and different mix proportions.

particularly during the dry and rainy seasons.

5. Extending the curing period beyond 28 days to evaluate long-term strength

development under different curing conditions.