Hygrothermic effects on compressive strength of concrete in the sahel, chad

Since its discovery, concrete has exhibited a varied behaviour in different environments and under different conditions of preservation. This variation was the major concern of many researchers. The majority of studies developed for this purpose are carried out in laboratories under well-controlled test conditions that do not reflect the actual conditions under which the concrete structure is put in place. In the Sahelian climate (arid and hot climate), the effect of ambient temperature and hygrometry greatly influences the mechanical resistance of concrete to compression. To illustrate this effect, we have tried in this study to make a comparison between the effect of the cure on concrete specimens prepared and subjected to the different real conditions of protective workings (burlap, polyane film, etc.) and test pieces kept in water within the laboratory. For this we carried out an experimental programme in which several test pieces were made and subjected to compression tests according to age. The results obtained show that in the environment where the ambient temperature is high and the relative humidity is low, fresh concrete increases in resistance at a young age and then loses in resistance at an older age and that the effect of the method of cure is very considerable and can control this result.