EARLY AGE THERMAL CRACK IN CONCRETE

   In this article a method of assessing the risk of early age thermal cracking in mass concrete, for given environmental conditions (harsh weather) is developed and tables and graphs prepared showing the effect of structural and material properties on restraint to warping and longitudinal movements in mass concrete

   A laboratory method for the study of early age thermal cracking, under conditions where the temperature changes and resulting deformation can be measured, is developed and applied to show that the limiting strain, which fully restrained concrete will accommodate without cracking, are substantially independent of maturity

   The effect of various parameters on the risk of early age thermal cracking in mass concrete is assessed by comparing the effective temperature change by allowing for free movement, with the limiting temperature change. It is concluded that, except under exceptional environmental conditions, early age thermal cracking may be avoided by curing the concrete with a membrane