Temperature Control Requirements for the Construction of Mass Concrete Members

Special precautions must be taken when constructing concrete elements designated as mass concrete. These precautions may be satisfied through the formation of a mass concrete specification. Temperature requirements must be established to mitigate thermal cracking and delayed ettringite formation (DEF), both of which cause premature deterioration of concrete. The temperature difference between the concrete core and outside edge must be limited to prevent excessively wide thermal cracks. To prevent DEF, the maximum concrete temperature must be limited to 160°F or 185°F, depending on the amount and type of supplementary cementing materials (SCMs) used. When designating a member as mass concrete, a minimum element dimension must be established to help ensure that the temperature limits are not exceeded. These temperature and size limits are investigated here in order to develop an Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) specification for mass concrete construction. Temperature data from seven ALDOT bridge elements were collected using temperature sensors. Maximum temperatures and temperature differences were used to determine appropriate temperature limits for the ALDOT specification as well as validate the temperature predictions of the ConcreteWorks software used for the same elements. Once ConcreteWorks’ accuracy was determined, 480 theoretical concrete placements were statistically analyzed to determine that the use of low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) concrete and SCMs play a major role in limiting maximum temperatures and temperature differences. A mass concrete specification was then developed, which designates mass concrete least dimensions, maximum temperature limits, and maximum temperature difference limits based on SCM use and concrete CTE.

• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/42366
• Corporate Authors:

  Auburn University

  Highway Research Center, Harbert Engineering Center
  Auburn, AL  United States  36849-5337

  Alabama Department of Transportation

  1409 Coliseum Boulevard
  Montgomery, AL  United States  36130-3050
• Authors:
  • Gross, Eric D
  • Eiland, Andrew D
  • Schindler, Anton K
  • Barnes, Robert W
• Publication Date: 2017-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 248p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge members; Cement; Concrete bridges; Ettringite; Specifications; Temperature; Thermal degradation; Thermal expansion; Validation
• Identifier Terms: Alabama Department of Transportation; ConcreteWorks (software)
• Geographic Terms: Alabama
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01705846
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 930-860R
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 23 2019 5:18PM