Abstract

Concrete curing plays a significant role in the development of compressive strength, durability, and long-term performance of concrete structures. However, maintaining conventional water curing under hot climatic conditions is often difficult due to rapid evaporation, water scarcity, and inadequate site supervision. This study evaluates the effectiveness of selected eco-friendly curing techniques on the compressive strength development of concrete under Abuja climatic conditions. Four curing methods were investigated namely water curing, jute bag curing, banana leaf curing, and polyethylene foam curing. An experimental research design was adopted. Concrete cubes of size 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm were produced using a mix ratio of 1:1:2 with a water-cement ratio of 0.5. A total of twenty-four concrete cubes were cast and cured using the selected curing techniques. Compressive strength tests were conducted at curing ages of 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days using a compression testing machine in accordance with BS EN 12390-3:2019.The results showed that water curing produced the highest 28-day compressive strength of 36.81 N/mm², followed closely by jute bag curing with 34.04 N/mm². Banana leaf curing achieved a compressive strength of 31.77 N/mm², while polyethylene foam curing recorded 27.33 N/mm². Although water curing remained the most effective method, the results demonstrate that jute bags and banana leaves can provide adequate moisture retention and satisfactory strength development under hot climatic conditions. The study concludes that eco-friendly curing materials, particularly jute bags and banana leaves, can serve as practical and sustainable alternatives to conventional water curing where continuous water supply is limited. The findings contribute to sustainable construction practices and provide recommendations for concrete curing under Abuja environmental conditions.

Key words: Concrete curing, Compressive strength, Jute bags, Banana leaves, Polyethylene foam, Sustainable construction