Laboratory test procedures to predict the thermal behaviour of concrete.
Date
1995
Authors
Gibbon, George James
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Abstract
The cracking of mass and structural concrete due to thermal stress is a major problem
in the concrete construction industry. Concrete will crack when the thermal
stress exceeds tbe tensile strength of the concrete, Decisions on the type of concrete
mix, cooling facilities and construction techniques to be used in the erection of a
concrete structure can only be made if the thermal behaviour and strength of the
concrete can be predicted during hydration. This thesis describes the development
of a low cost, computer controlled, adiabatic calorimeter to determine tlte heat of
hydration and a probe to determine the thermal conductivity or concrere samples.
The main thrust of this thesis is the development of the thermal conductivity probe
which, for the first time, can measure the thermal conductivity of concrete through
all stages of hydration. A thermal model was also developed to verify the results,
and the use of the calorimeter for temperature matched curing tests is also discussed.
Results, obtained from the test procedures described, will provide far more accurate
predictions of the temperatures in concrete structures than was possible in the past.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Keywords
Concrete -- Thermal properties., Concrete -- Testing.