AUTOMATION IN THE CURING PROCESS: A CONTROL AND MONITORING SYSTEM FOR MOIST CHAMBERS IN CEMENTITIOUS COMPOSITES

This study presents the development of an automated system for a moist chamber designed for curing concrete and mortar specimens, adhering to the guidelines of ABNT NBR 9479:2006. The proposed system enables automated control of temperature and relative humidity throughout the curing process. An unconventional refrigeration system was employed for thermal control, specifically designed to maintain hygrometric stability through spray distribution systems, there by avoiding losses associated with temperature adjustments. A physical prototype was constructed, featuring shelves for specimen accommodation and an integrated water drainage system. During testing, the prototype demonstrated satisfactory performance. The adopted climate control method effectively prevented excessive moisture removal from the environment,managing humidity through condensation and evaporation phases. The fluid temperature was maintained at approximately -4 C, with a thermal variation (ΔT) of 4 C, ensuring a constant relative humidity between 93% and 95% and a stabilized ambient temperature near 25 C. The implementation of this compact moist chamber is concluded to be a viable solution for enhancing scientific research and practical activities in science and technology institutions, ensuring that cementitious matrices achieve mechanical and durability properties equivalent to those specified in structural designs through proper curing procedures.