Evaluation of the effect of various types of moulds on compressive strength of concrete

Abstract

This research evaluated the effect of various types of moulds on the compressive strength of concrete. A total of 27 concrete cubes and 27 cylinders were cast using a mix ratio of 1:2:4 with water/cement ratio of 0.5. Three set of 9 cubes and 9 cylinders were cast using steel, plastic and wooden moulds. The cubes and cylinders were crushed after 7, 14 and 28 days respectively. and then the compressive strengths were determined. The compressive strength of the cubes and cylinders made with steel moulds were higher at all ages of curing, compared to those made with plastic and wooden moulds. The cubes and cylinders made with plastic moulds had higher strength after the steel moulds. The cubes and cylinders made with wooden moulds had the least compressive strength at all ages of curing. At 7, 14 and 28 days, the cube specimens for steel moulds had 20%, 35%, and 32% higher compressive strength than those for the cylindrical moulds. At 7, 14 and 28 days, the cube specimens for wood moulds had 11, 35, and 19.85% higher compressive strength than those for the cylindrical moulds. Concrete cured in plastic cubes and cylindrical moulds had the lowest compressive strength. At 28 days curing period, cube specimens had 28% higher compressive strength than the wood cubes, while that of the cylindrical specimens was 16% higher

Keywords: compressive strength, concrete cubes, concrete cylinders, moulds, steel, plastic, wood