Applicability of degree of hydration concept and maturity method for thermo-visco-elastic behaviour of early age concrete

Abstract

Whereas the degree of hydration concept and the maturity method are often treated as two competitive approaches for dealing with properties of early age concrete, it is shown in this contribution that both methods principally yield the same results and conclusions. Moreover, the applicability of both methods for the delayed mechanical behaviour of the early age concrete (basic creep and relaxation) is outlined as well. In this way, together with the well known applicability for strength and stiffness development, both methods now can be recognized as valid tools for modelling the total thermo-visco-elastic behaviour of early age concrete.