The Maturity Method: A Simple

Approach for Estimating

Early-Age Strength
Development of Concrete
Dr. Nicholas J . Carino
Consultant
International Symposium on
Advances in Concrete Technology
J anuary 9-13, 2012
Quito, Ecuador
Strength of Concrete
Time
Temperature
Strength
Age
High T
LowT
S
S
t
Maturity Method
Technique to account for the combined
effects of time and temperature on
strength development of concrete
Can be used to estimate in-place strength
at any time during construction
Need to measure in-place temperature
Need the strength-maturity relationship of
the concrete
Origins
Need for a technique to estimate strength
development under steam curing
McIntosh, J. D., 1949, Electrical Curing of
Concrete, Magazine of Concrete Research,
Vol. 1, No. 1, January, pp. 21-28.
Nurse, R. W., 1949, Steam Curing of
Concrete, Magazine of Concrete Research,
Vol. l, No. 2, pp. 79-88.
Saul, A. G. A., 1951, Principles Underlying the
Steam Curing of Concrete at Atmospheric
Pressure, Magazine of Concrete Research,
Vol. 2, No. 6, March, pp. 127-140.
Maturity Rule
"Concrete of the same mix at the same
maturity (reckoned in temperature-time)
has approximately the same strength
whatever combination of temperature
and time go to make up that maturity."
A.G.A. Saul, 1951
Maturity Rule
Samples of the same concrete with same maturity
have same strength
S
t
r
e
n
g
t
h
Maturity Index, M
StrengthMaturity
Relationship
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
Time
T
o
M
Hot
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
Time
T
o
M
Cold
M
Maturity Method
ASTM C1074
Developed in 1987
TerminologyASTM C 1074
Maturity
Maturity method
Maturity index
Maturity function
Strength-maturity relationship
Terminology
Maturity
The extent of the development of a
property of a cementitious mixture.
Note: At any age, maturity depends on
the curing history (time and temperature)
Terminology
Maturity method
Technique to estimate concrete strength
based on the assumption that samples of
the same concrete have equal strengths
if they have equal values of the maturity
index
Terminology
Maturity index
An indicator of maturity calculated from the
measured temperature history using a maturity
function.
(Note: The calculated index is indicative of maturity
provided there has been sufficient moisture for
hydration during the time used in the calculation.)
Two indexes are used:
Temperature-time factor
Equivalent age
Terminology
Maturity function
A mathematical expression that uses the measured
temperature history during the curing period to
calculate a maturity index that is indicative of the
maturity at the end of that period.
Nurse-Saul function (for temp-time factor)
Arhennius function (for equivalent age)
Maturity Functions
Nurse-Saul Function Temperature-time factor:
Arrhenius Equation Equivalent Age:

A = t T T t M
a
) ( ) (
0

A =
|
|
.
|

\
|

t e t
r a
T T
Q
e
1 1
T
a
=Avg. concrete temperature
T
0
=Datum temperature
Q =Temperature sensitivity factor
T
r
=Reference temperature (in K)
Test smart Build right
Temperature-time Factor
Nurse-Saul Function
Time
Concrete
Temp.
T
o A t
T
a

A = t T T t M
a
) ( ) (
0
Equivalent Age, t
e
The number of days or hours of curing at a
reference curing temperature (T
r
) required to
produce a maturity equal to the maturity
achieved by a curing period (t) at another
temperature (T):
t
e
= (T) t
(T) =Age conversion factor
1 1
( )
a r
Q
T T
T e
| |

|
|
\ .
=
Test smart Build right
Effect of Q-Value on (T)
T
r
= 23 C (296 K)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 10 20 30 40 50
Q =4000 K
Q =5000 K
Q =6000 K
A
g
e

C
o
n
v
e
r
s
i
o
n

F
a
c
t
o
r
Temperature,
o
C
Courtesy of TxDOT
Maturity Meters
Maturity Index
Temperature-Time
Factor
Equivalent Age
Test smart Build right
Modern Maturity Meters
Sensor and data logger in one
embeddable unit
Maturity read by handheld reader
or temperature data transferred
to handheld computer
Or wireless data transfer
Courtesy of The Transtec Group
"COMA" Disposable Meter
Components
0
1
2
3
4
5
days @
20 C
Cap
Capillary
Card
Plastic tube
Break Capillary
0
1
2
3
4
5
days @
20 C
Equivalent
Age @ 20C
Evaporation rate from capillary is affected by temperature
in the same way as strength development of concrete.
Test smart Build right
Break capillary Place tube into
fresh concrete
Read concrete
maturity
Use of COMA Meter
Implementation
ASTM C 1074
Permits maturity functions based on Nurse-
Saul or Arrhenius equations
Procedure to establish strength-maturity
relationship
Procedure to estimate in-place strength
Annex for determining best value of T
o
or Q
Terminology
Strength-maturity relationship
An empirical relationship between
compressive (or flexural) strength and
maturity index obtained by testing
specimens whose temperature history up to
the time of test has been recorded.
Strength-Maturity Relationship
Prepare cylinders (or cubes)
Embed temperature sensors at center
of two cylinders (or cubes)
Moist cure
At ages of 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 d measure
strength and corresponding maturity
index
Plot average compressive strength
versus maturity index
Instrumented Specimen
Courtesy of TxDOT
Strength-Maturity Relationship
Plowman:
Carino-Knudsen:
Freiesleben Hansen-Pederson:
) log(M b a S + =
) ( 1
) (
0
0
M M K
M M K
S S
u
+

=
M
u
S S e
o
t | |

|
\ .
=
Test smart Build right
Example of S-M Relationship
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
0 4000 8000 12000 16000
S =-5942.1 +2947log(M)
R=0.98208
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
v
e

S
t
r
e
n
g
t
h
,

p
s
i
Temperature-Time Factor, (
o
C-h)
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
v
e

S
t
r
e
n
g
t
h
,

M
P
a
1 d
3d
7 d
14 d
28 d
Best-ft Equation:
Plowman Logarithmic Equation
Test smart Build right
Example of S-M Relationship
Plowman Logarithmic Equation
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
100 1000 10000 100000
y =-5942.1 +2947log(x)
R=0.98208
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
v
e

S
t
r
e
n
g
t
h
,

p
s
i
Temperature-Time Factor, (
o
C-h)
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
v
e

S
t
r
e
n
g
t
h
,

M
P
a
1 d
3d
7 d
14 d
28 d
Best-ft Equation:
Estimating In-place Strength
Secure sensors to reinforcement or embed
sensors into concrete a soon as practicable
At critical locations in terms of exposure and
structural requirements
Connect sensors to maturity instruments
Read maturity index
Estimate strength from strength-maturity
relationship
Test smart Build right
Install Sensor
Courtesy of Con-Cure Corp.
Maturity
Meter
Test smart Build right
Courtesy of TxDOT
Courtesy of Con-Cure Corp.
Read Meter
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
0 4000 8000 12000 16000
S =-5942.1 +2947log(M)
R=0.98208
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
v
e

S
t
r
e
n
g
t
h
,

p
s
i
Temperature-Time Factor, (
o
C-h)
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
v
e

S
t
r
e
n
g
t
h
,

M
P
a
1 d
3d
7 d
14 d
28 d
Best-ft Equation:
Estimate Strength
Strength
Maturity Index
Summary
S
14.3
Field
Measurement
Maturity
Meter
M
M
Laboratory Testing
7.2
Maturity
Meter
Limitations
Moisture must be available for hydration
Neglects effects of early-age temperature on
later-age strength
Only temperature is measured; need other tests
to confirm concrete strength
Early-age tests (ASTM C918) of standard-cured
specimens (from field): confirm strength potential
Pullout tests (ASTM C900): confirm in-place strength
Test instrumented specimens from field samples: verify
S-M relationship (Texas DOT Method Tex 426-A)
Maturity + Pullout Testing
Use the maturity method to determine when
the required strength should have been
achieved in the structure
Verify by using pullout tests to estimate in-
place strength
Combination of maturity and pullout testing can
lead to rapid and safe concrete construction
Maturity Functions
Nurse-Saul Function Temperature-time factor:
Arrhenius Equation Equivalent Age:

A = t T T t M
a
) ( ) (
0

A =
|
|
.
|

\
|

t e t
r a
T T
Q
e
1 1
T
a
=Avg. concrete temperature
T
0
=Datum temperature
Q =Temperature sensitivity factor
T
r
=Reference temperature (in K)
Procedure for T
o
and Q
Isothermal Strength Gain
Age
Strength
t
o
k
T
S
u
1
S
u
( )
1 ( )
T o
u
T o
k t t
S S
k t t

=
+
Rate Constant, k
T
Age
Strength
k
T
S
u
1
Curing at higher
T increases k
T
Rate Constant vs. Temperature
Temperature
Rate
Constant
k
T
T
o
Linear FunctionObtain T
o
( ) ( )
o
k T A T T =
Rate Constant vs. Temperature
Temperature
Rate
Constant
k
T
Arrhenius EquationObtain Q
273
( )
Q
T
k T Ce

+
=
Example
Linear function
Carino & Tank, ACI Journal, Mar-April 1992
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
-10 0 10 20 30 40 50
Type I
Type I +FA
R
a
t
e

C
o
n
s
t
a
n
t
,

d
a
y
-
1
Temperature
o
C
-5 C
11 C
w/cm =0.45
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
-10 0 10 20 30 40 50
Type I
Type I +FA
R
a
t
e

C
o
n
s
t
a
n
t
,

d
a
y
-
1
Temperature
o
C
Example
Arrhenius equation
Carino & Tank, ACI Journal, Mar-April 1992
Q =7640 K
Q =3610 K
w/cm =0.45
Summary
Maturity method is a simple technique for
estimating in-place strength
Removal of formwork
Application of prestressing
Termination of cold-weather protection or curing
Open structure to service
Accuracy of estimated strength depends on :
Using appropriate maturity function (T
o
, Q)
Good control of batching operations
Recognize that maturity method:
Measures only temperature
Additional confirmation about the in-place concrete
is needed before applying construction loads
Assumes that adequate moisture is present for
hydration
Proper curing is required
Does not account for effects of high early-age
temperature on later-age strength
Develop S-M at higher curing temperature
Muchas gracias!