Author
F M Khalaf
Reader, School of the Built Environment, Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland

Abstract
The use of electricity as a means of supplying heat to young concrete has become recognized as an effective and energy efficient form of accelerating the curing process. It is well known that mortar strength influences the compressive, tensile and flexural strength of masonry walls. If the development of strength in mortar joints is accelerated, loading could be applied earlier to masonry walls than normally cured walls. The investigation involved accelerating the curing of mixed mortar cubes using the heat generated from passing direct electrical current through it. The cubes were subjected to various heating regimes involving differing delay periods, rate of heating, maximum temperature and cooling time. During heating, readings of current and voltage were taken. The results of testing showed that the rate of heating, maximum temperature and the water/cement (w/c) ratio govern the strength gain achieved by the use of direct electrical curing (DEC).