Thermal Cracks in Concrete Structure—The Basic Issues to Be Understood

Abstract

One of the reasons making cracks in the concrete structure is due to thermal problems. Thermal cracking mainly relates to the temperature development during the hydration process and the variation in ambient temperature. In actual construction conditions, the temperature differences between the inside zone and the surface of concrete blocks are the cause of thermal cracking. It is noted that these differences in temperature may vary in different parts depending on the shape, size, and operating conditions of the structure. Especially, the formation of thermal cracks occurs not only in mass concrete structures but also in any others. Additionally, these cracks may exist in structures at both early age and extraction stages. Thermal cracks may affect the integrity of concrete structures and cause costly maintenance. This article presents an overview of thermal cracks in concrete structures with the basic issues to be understood. The causes of crack formation in concrete structures have been analyzed and evaluated in detail by using Finite Element Method (FEM) and experimental study. Also, the review analyzes the basic measures to minimize the risk of thermal cracking in concrete structures. These measures take notes and establish appropriate plans to prevent cracks in design and construction processes. Besides, the conclusion mentions the new approach for further study in this field.