Comparative evaluation of Nurse-Saul and Arrhenius maturity functions for predicting concrete compressive strength

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, Arak, Iran

2 Faculty of Earth Sciences Engineering, Arak University of Technology, Arak, Iran

3 Master of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran

Abstract

Accurately estimating the compressive strength of in-place concrete with-out destructive testing is criti-cal for efficient construction scheduling and safety assessment. The maturity method offers a promising non-destructive approach by correlating strength development with time-temperature histo-ry. This study investigates the efficacy of the Nurse-Saul and Arrhenius maturity functions in predicting the compressive strength of a specific con-crete mix design. The primary objective was to develop and val-idate a ro-bust mathematical model to estimate strength at various ages based on cal-culated maturity. Laboratory specimens were instrumented with embedded sensors to record temperature-time data during curing. Compressive strength was experimentally determined at multiple ages. Maturity indices were computed using both the Nurse-Saul and Arrhenius functions. An ex-ponential strength-maturity relationship was then established through curve-fitting. Validation involved three independent speci-men series cured under different temperature regimes. Results demonstrated that the derived expo-nential model could predict compressive strength with high accuracy, particularly at later ages, using either maturity index. Comparative analy-sis indicated that predictions based on the Arrhenius function showed mar-ginally better agreement with experimental data, as the Nurse-Saul method consistently produced slightly overestimated strength values. The findings confirm that a calibrated maturity-strength function, especially one utiliz-ing the Arrhenius approach, provides a reliable and practical tool for non-destructive strength estimation, facilitating significant economic and safety benefits in concrete construction management.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 July 2026

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