Curing Methods of Precast Concrete Elements

An important benefit in terms of improving efficient use of resources such as electricity and combustibles, is harnessing renewable resources of energy, mainly solar energy. Solarenergy can effectively be used in regions where solar radiation is very important either inintensity or over a long period yearly. Among these uses, thermal treatment of products like prefabricated concrete elements. Algeria is one place among those rich regions in solarradiation thanks to the beight of sun and the number of days per year of sun shining. The use of heating by evaporation in climatic container having a polyethylene or metal covers permits to improve production capacity. It has been established that during ambient temperature of 25°C and more, the inner temperature of this climatic container can reach 50 to 70°C and the strength of concrete after 8 hours of storage reaches 70 to 75% of the nominal strength. These conditions can tremendously improve the rate of production of prefabricated concrete elements.