[Manish Jain]

Methods of curing


• Water curing 
This is the best method of curing as it satisfies all the requirement of curing, namely, promotion of hydration, elimination of shrinkage and absorption of heat of hydration. It is pointed out that even if the membrane method is adopted it is desirable that a certain extent of water curing is done before the concrete is covered with membrane 

• Immersion
  
• Ponding
  
• Spraying or fogging
  
• Wet covering
  

• Membrane curing
• Appplication of heat
• Miscellaneous 


Duration of curing

• The concrete should not be allowed to dry fast in any conditions.
• This conditions should be maintained for 24 hours.
• The best practice is to keep the concrete in gunny bags
for 24 hours and then commence water curing by ponding or sprinkling method.
• The concrete cured for the long time will show superior strength and show other good properties.
• However ,curing for long time will be a costlier process.
• The curing period varies for different structures ,situation and different atmospheric temperature.
• So for general it is cured for 7 days