Mass Concrete & Temperature Controlling During Mass concrete

1. Purpose
Temperature control of mass concrete is necessary to prevent cracking caused by excessive
tensile stains that result from temperature differential within the concrete mass . Cracking
can be controlled by methods that limit the peak temperature to a safe
level. This method statement has been prepared to provide a general guide, specialconsider
ations to be given in relation to the heat of hydration for concrete pours

The entire procedure can be organized into 3 steps. First step is a pre
cooling procedure with will be applied at the concrete batching plant to achieve a minimum
concrete temperature supply. Second step is to minimize time delivery of concrete since
being dispatched from batching plant to the workface and to minimize time spending before
concrete placement at the workface and third step is a post-cooling procedure with will be
applied during concrete curing upon a completion of concrete placement.

A temperature differential between the center of the concrete mass and any about the outside
faces will be kept minimum ( Basically , heat on the surface of the concrete is easily released
toward the ambient whereas the center remains its high temperatures , this follows that the
temperature differential will induce the internal restraint and subsequently introduce thermal
contraction cracks.

The method statement also includes details of temperature differential control procedure
during concrete placement with related to pouring sequence. Special care and planning is
required as the volume of pour is large in relation to those normally being place on the
workface.

2. Scope Of Work
This method statement includes e.g. pre-cooling procedure before & during concretemix,
supply & delivery of concrete, inspection of concrete at the workface and post-cooling by a
proper cooling upon a completion of concrete placement.

3. Controlling Temperature In Mass Concrete.

 3.1) Concrete Mixing & Supply:
With a large concrete pour of this magnitude it is essential that proper pre-construction
planning methods and proper checks be in place prior to execution of the works. A mass
pour is considered to be demanded a special attention to be given to logistical and technical
considerations such as concrete supply, casting sequence and temperature differential
control by thermal quilts curing method etc. Finally, a report of temperature monitoring will
be conducted

Concrete Mix Control (Pre-Cooling Procedure):

It is a preparation against the possible effect to the concrete properties and construction
operations. When these factors are explained to the relevant persons engaged to these
activities therefore measures will be taken to eliminate or minimize undesirable effects that
possibly introduced. This method defines lists of possible unfavorable effects and prevents
practices intended to minimize them. Among these practices are such important measures as a
pre-cooling ingredient, consideration of concrete temperature as placed, transportation time
and curing technique. The method of concrete temperature control will be proposed as
follows:

A. Use of ice as part of mixing water: This application is effective in reducing concrete
temperature, because on melting alone, to absorb heat. The following measures will be
applied:

 Spray cool water continually approximately at every 30 minutes interval to the course
aggregate stock This will be done at least 2 hours in advance prior to mixing of concrete
 Add ice as a part of mixing water for the concrete mix to reduce the watertemperature.
The ice will be added until the water temperature is reduced to reach 5 Celsius Degree.
The amount of ice added to the water is dependent on the air temperature at the certain
mixing day ice should be added to water 3 To 4 Hrs in advance to concrete mixing.
 Spray cool water to the trucks mixers to reduce the temperature of the trucksmixers.
 At the batching, the first batch of the concrete shall be checked its temperature. The
water temperature will be continued to reduce until the concrete temperature is lower
than 28 Celsius Degree prior to the delivering to the workface.
 The above process will be regularly done during the entire period of supply to ensure
that the same degree of temperature always be maintained.
 At the workface upon a delivery of the concrete, the fresh concrete will be re-measured
whether the temperature is still within the specified tolerance.
B. Using Low Heat Concrete: mix design for low heat concrete mix will be design approval
prior to use. In addition, trail mix will be done prior to use.

C. Concrete Delivery: since the temperature rise can be increased with a passage of time
thus the period between mixing and delivery will be kept to an absolute minimum.
Attention will be given to coordinating and dispatching of the mixing trucks with the rate
of placement to avoid delays in delivery. Details are as follows.

Planning: A pre-concreting meeting will be held internally and with concrete supplier to
finalize agreement of the proposed concreting procedure.

Access: Designated site access routes for concrete supply will be prepared and traffic control
measures implemented. The proper access must be organized to enable a continuous
transportation of the concrete during the entire period of pouring so that the required
temperature of concrete pour will be maintained.

Supply: Concrete batching plant capacity and numbers of delivery trucks will be planned to
maintain a continuous supply of concrete so that an introducing to cold joint can be prevented.
In addition to minimize temperature differentials occurred within the concrete mass during
pour.

3.2) Concrete Placement:

Sufficient concrete pumps will be engaged for concrete placement in order that a flow pouring
can be achieved. As such parking time of the concrete trucks waiting for pouring can be kept
minimized thus the required placing temperature will be maintained.
3.3) Curing Procedure:

High density thermocol ( 50 mm thk & density 35 Kg / Cum )

and plastic sheets will be used for curing purposes. This will be done immediately once the
concrete is reached its stiffening time by fully cover the whole concrete surface and spread the
sand (approximately 10 mm. thick.) onto the whole area of plastic sheets to prevent concrete
temperature loss too quick and result high temperature differential between the surface and at
the middle. Care must be taken during the entire curing to ensure by reading its temperature
through a set of thermocouples that the temperature at the middle of the concrete and any
outer surface to be kept minimum.

3.4) Test and Monitoring of the Concrete Mass after Poured

As soon as the concrete has reached its stiffening time approximately 1 hour afterpouring a set
of plastic sheet will be covered fully the concrete surface. Sand will be filled fully onto the
whole area where the plastics sheet cover with approximately 10mm. thick. The plastics
cover and the side forms will be maintained to ensure that the temperature differential
between the middle of concrete mass and any outer surface can be kept minimized

1. Thermocouple Installation 2. Digital Thermometer

To ensure that the temperature differential will be controlled a set of measuring apparatus will
be set as shown by the above pictures. The measurement purposes are to finding the
temperature development within the concrete mass. The results will show peak temperature
and the temperature differential for such measuring points.
As previously explained, sets of thermocouples will be installed and embedded to the concrete
at the bottom, middle and. Top and bottom sets will be approximately 30 cm of measuring
from the edges. The heat generated will be converted to the circuit and sent tothe digital
thermometer which will record and show information of temperature measure .In general case
the maximum temperature of mass concrete will peak at 48 hours after pour and will be
constant for 7 days and will decrease to the air temperature after 14 days .

Equipment Installation:
Temperatures will be measured at 3 levels e.g. top, middle and
bottom. The end of each thermocouple wire(s) were fixed to the designated position to the
concrete mass prior to pouring. The others ends were linked to the rear panel of the digital
thermometer which is set to read the temperature at every 60 minutes for at least 3day.

Note : No Water curing to be done for 1st 3 Days & Shutter or Forms
should not be removed .