Comparison of Thermal Property Models for Concrete

Thermal effects from cement hydration and environmental factors can lead to thermal gradients within the concrete section and induce thermal cracking. Temperature effects are especially important in mass concrete, where the size of the placement can produce large amounts of heat with relatively little surface area to dissipate it. Even in smaller placements, concrete containing high cement contents or supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as silica fume can produce high temperatures. There are several approaches for estimating temperature rise of concrete. Some of these tools could be beneficial to Reclamation’s designers when determining placement size or determining if a temperature control plan is required.