Direct electric curing of concrete

Direct electric curing (DEC) of concrete is a process by which alternating electric current is passed through the bulk of freshly poured Portland cement concrete to acceleratethe curing process by means of direct ohmic heating. Electric JieM strengths, ranging approximately from 300 to 500 V/_m, are required. Ris process leads to signiJicantly higher preliminary (8 hours) crushing strengths. The ultimate (28 days) strength is under suspicion, however. The Authors have investighted the influence of the maximum temperature reached, the energy input (kWh/m³), and the rate of energy input (kW/m3)on the preliminary and ultimate strengths of the concrete. It is concluded that the DEC technique is technically and economically viable, and warrants further development.