I am about to test small scale prism specimens for flexural strength. However the machine broke down, henceforth is it acceptable if I take out the prism from the water bath (after 28 days) and store it in the lab for 4 months before actually testing it? Or should I let it stay in the water bath for moist-curing for the whole 4 months. Which is a better approach?
I do not see problems, as long as you report in your results that the age is 5 months. But it all depends on the use, type of study and comparisons that you intend to perform.
The greatest resistance gain is at 28 days, after that age the difference is very small.
Both the approach is OK. Because, Ordinary cement concrete with ordinary portland cement attains more than 75% its final strength after 28 days and above 90 to 95% in the course of one year. If the concrete is made by rapid hardening cement, the scenario is different. Concrete with rapid hardening cement attains more than 85% its final strength after 28 days.
Depends on what you want to simulate. If you want to test properties of concrete of the certain age that is built in the existing structure exposed to atmosphere then just store it in lab as this is more close to the real conditions.
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