Experimental and numerical assessment of thermal properties of self-compacting mass concrete at early ages

Abstract

Although many attempts have done to evaluate the effect of hydration heat in normal concrete, no valuable assessment has yet been proposed for thermal behavior of SCC structures. In this paper, a different approach was used to comprehensively evaluate how the temperature rise affects the thermal and mechanical properties of the SCC, as compared with that for the normal one. Twelve mixtures in three w/c ratios of 0.3, 0.37, and 0.44 were prepared. The compressive, tensile, and flexural strength and also elastic modulus of the concretes were determined. The Hydration heat evolution and induced thermal strain between core and surface layer of simulated mass concretes were measured using a temperature matched curing cabinet (TMCC). Numerical analysis of the induced thermal stresses and strains of massive fresh concrete columns was done. The result showed that the SCC specimens experienced lower thermal strains compared with that for the normal concrete. The results of numerical thermal analysis also revealed that the risk of thermal cracking of the SCC specimens was 36% lower than that for the normal concrete.