Cylinders that are to be field cured are stored ____ and protected ____.

• A. In a standard lab; in a climate-controlled room
• B. In or on the structure as near to the point of deposit of the concrete represented as possible, in as near as possible the same way as the formed work
• C. On a mobile trailer away from the structure
• D. In a separate outdoor shed

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that field-cured cylinders should experience the same curing environment as the concrete in the structure. By storing them in or on the structure as close as possible to where the concrete was deposited, and curing them in the same way as the formed work, you ensure the temperature, moisture, wind exposure, and other conditions match those of the actual element. This makes the test results representative of how the concrete will perform in service, since concrete strength development is highly influenced by its curing environment.

If the cylinders were kept in a standard lab or in a climate-controlled room, they would be curing under different conditions than the in-place concrete, which could lead to strength readings that don’t accurately reflect the structure’s actual performance. Similarly, moving cylinders to a mobile trailer away from the structure or placing them in a separate outdoor shed would introduce environmental differences that alter curing and strength development, breaking the link between the sample and its field conditions.

So storing and curing the cylinders near the point of deposit, in approximately the same way as the formed work, preserves the integrity of the test as a measure of field performance.