Effect of Water Sprinkling Curing of Mortar with Different Binder Materials and Different Pre-curing Times

Precast concrete is often manufactured using steam curing, but it has been found that the performance of precast concrete after steam curing is lower than that of concrete cured in the atmosphere. In contrast, water sprinkling curing is being studied because it is relatively easy to wet the surfaces of concrete members without the need for a curing tank, and it is effective for increasing the compressive strength of some concrete. Previous studies have shown that the higher the maximum temperature during steam curing, the easier it is to obtain the strength-enhancing effect of water sprinkling curing. However, the effect of different binding materials and pre-curing times on water sprinkling curing has not yet been confirmed. In this study, the effects of different binders and different pre-curing times on the curing characteristics of mortar were investigated. The results showed that the strength was enhanced by water sprinkling curing even when the pre-curing time was short. Therefore, in Japan, where 2–3 h of pre-curing time is required, it may be possible to reduce the pre-curing time even more by applying water sprinkling curing.