Temperature damage assessment of mass concrete based on the coupling mechanism of hydration-temperature-humidity-constraint factors

Abstract

Temperature cracking of mass concrete is an important issue affecting the safety of concrete foundations in civil engineering. This problem extends from the construction process of concrete foundations to the operation stage. This study uses low-temperature-rising (LTR) polymers to regulate the hydration process of cementitious materials, and prepares LTR mass concrete. Taking the hydration degree of concrete-cement system as the basic state variable, the multi-factor effects of actual hydration process, temperature, humidity changes, and constraints on mass concrete are comprehensively considered. A concrete temperature-damage model based on the coupling mechanism of “hydration-temperature-humidity-constraints” is established, and the temperature, stress, and temperature damage evolution laws of LTR mass concrete and ordinary mass concrete are calculated. The reliability of the model is verified through field tests. The results show that the finite element method can effectively simulate the development of concrete temperature, stress, and damage degree based on actual working conditions under multi-factor coupling.