Understanding
Windbreak Principles
Required height and length for typical placements may surprise you
by Bruce A. Suprenant and Ward R. Malisch
D
ocuments published by ACI and other industry
organizations recommend erecting temporary
windbreaks (Fig. 1) to reduce the evaporation rate in
fresh concrete and thereby minimize the occurrence of
plastic shrinkage cracking.1-5 None of the documents,
however, describe the windbreak height, porosity, length,
orientation, or continuity needed to reduce wind speed to
a benign level. Without such information, it’s difficult to
determine if windbreaks comprise an economical and
effective strategy for reducing the evaporation rate.
Benefits of Reducing Wind Speed
Surface drying of fresh concrete is initiated whenever the
evaporation rate is greater than the bleeding rate: the rate at
which water rises to the surface of recently placed concrete.
High concrete temperatures, high wind speed, low air
temperatures, low relative humidity, or a combination of
these can cause rapid evaporation of surface water.
Cumulative evaporation
Cumulative bleeding or
Fig. 1: Windbreaks may be needed in cold weather
because low air temperature, low relative humidity, and
high wind speeds can lead to plastic shrinkage cracking
(Photo courtesy of Portland Cement Association)
ACI 305R-104 indicates that the probability of plastic
shrinkage cracking increases whenever the environmental
conditions increase evaporation or when the concrete has a
low bleeding rate. It also indicates that experience in limiting
plastic shrinkage cracking has led to specified allowable
evaporation rates from 0.05 to 0.2 lb/ft2/h (0.25 to 1.0 kg/m2/h).
Evaporation rates can be estimated using a nomograph
published in References 1 and 4, with the wind speed, one
of the most important variables, measured at an elevation
about 20 in. (0.5 m) above the top of the concrete slab. For
example, with a relative humidity of 50%, an air temperature
of 80°F (27°C), and a concrete temperature of 80°F (27°C),
reducing the wind speed from 15 mph (24 km/h) down to
5 mph (8 km/h) reduces the evaporation rate from 0.2 to
0.1 lb/ft2/h (1.0 to 0.5 kg/m2/h).
The effect of a windbreak on a concrete placement is
shown schematically in Fig. 2, with bleeding and evaporation
plotted as functions of time after placement. A critical point
Cumulative
evaporation
(without windbreak)
Critical
Cumulative point
bleeding
Time of
setting
Cumulative
evaporation
(with windbreak)
Time since placing
Fig. 2: Schematic representation of the effect of a windbreak on
evaporation rate and potential for plastic shrinkage cracking. A
windbreak results in a significant reduction in the evaporation
rate. The evaporation may remain below bleeding from
placement until the time of setting (modified from Reference 5)
Concrete international july 2012 35
 occurs when evaporation exceeds bleeding
before the time of setting. In many place-
surface of
Turbulent ments, critical points occur very soon after
Undisturbed flow
flow 3H separation Undisturbed placement, when bleed water has not yet
flow
2H reached the surface, and shortly before the
Eddying time of setting, when the bleeding rate of the
H flow
Eddy mixture slows. The concrete may endure the
2 to 5H 10 to 15H first critical zone because the mixture is
50 to100H plastic enough to simply shrink into a thinner
Fig. 3: A schematic of the effect of a windbreak. Although the wind flows over placement and finishing operations will close
the barrier, the pressure drop in the wind shadow results in eddying flow that incipient cracks, but the second critical zone
can have significant speeds (based on Reference 6) could cause damage. The example shows that
a significant reduction in evaporation rate (in
1.0
0.9 this case, obtained with a windbreak) has the potential of
0.8 eliminating both critical zones.
2 0.7
Vertical distance in
barrier heights H

0.6 Windbreak Function

0.5 For over a century, the effects of windbreaks (shelterbelts
1 0.4
0.3 and fences) have been studied for their effects on local and
microclimates. These studies show that the height, porosity,
0 length, orientation, and continuity of a windbreak are key
0 4 8 12 16 20
(a)
(a) Leeward distance in barrier heights H factors that affect the wind speed in the sheltered zone
downwind of the windbreak.
1.0
0.9
2
0.8 Height
Windbreak height H is the most important factor
Vertical distance in

0.7
barrier heights H

0.6 determining the area protected downwind. The flow pattern

0.5
1 resulting from a windbreak is illustrated schematically in
0.4
0.2 0.3 Fig. 3. The region of disturbed flow downwind of the
windbreak is divided into two zones: the wind shadow and
0
0 4 8 12 16 20 the remainder of the wake. The former, an area with an
(b)
(b) Leeward distance in barrier heights H eddying flow, is generally about 10 to 15H downwind.
Incident flow is reestablished about 40H downwind.
1.0 Measurements show that the near-surface wind speeds
2 0.9 behind a solid windbreak will be at or below 50% of the
Vertical distance in
barrier heights H

0.8
0.7 open-field wind speed only within a distance of 7H down-
0.6
1 0.5 wind (Fig. (4a)). Therefore, an 8 ft (2.4 m) tall solid windbreak
0.3
0.4 will reduce a 20 mph (32 km/h) wind to about 10 mph
(16 km/h) within a shielded area limited to only about
0
0 4 8 12 16 20 55 ft (16 m) from the barrier.
(c)
(c)
Leeward distance in barrier heights H
Porosity
1.0
2
0.9 If the windbreak is porous, air bleeding through it will
Vertical distance in
barrier heights H

0.8 increase the pressure immediately adjacent to the down-

0.7
1 0.6 wind face. Increasing the porosity moves the position of
0.5 the minimum wind speed leeward and the width of the
0.4 protected area will increase. As can be seen in Fig. 4(c),
(d)
(d)
0
0
the greatest protection is provided by the barrier with
4 8 12 16 20
Leeward distance in barrier heights H 40% porosity. Wind speeds behind a windbreak with 40%
porosity will be at or below 50% of the open-field wind
Fig. 4: Ratio of leeward to windward wind speed downwind of a
speeds within a distance of about 10H downwind (Fig. 4(c)),
windbreak: (a) solid windbreak; (b) 20% porosity; (c) 40%
porosity; and (d) 60% porosity. As the porosity increases, the
so an 8 ft (2.4 m) porous barrier will reduce a 20 mph
position of the minimum wind speed moves downwind. The 40% (32 km/h) wind to about 10 mph (16 km/h) within a
porous windbreak produces the lowest wind speed over the shielded area of about 80 ft (24 m) from the barrier.
largest area (based on Reference 7) Windbreak heights required for downwind surface

36 july 2012 Concrete international

 Table 1: wind speeds of 40 to 60% of open-field wind speeds are
Windbreak heights required for specific wind summarized in Table 1.
reductions for windbreaks with various porosity
(based on Fig. 4) Orientation, length, and gaps
Leeward wind Required windbreak To be most effective, a windbreak must be perpendicular
speed, % of height H as a to the wind direction. Also, the length of a windbreak must
Windbreak open-field wind function of protected exceed the length of the intended protected area—not only
type speed zone width W
because wind directions shift, but eddies at the ends of
40 W/4 windbreaks can increase local wind speeds and reduce the
Solid 50 W/7 protected area. Figure 5 shows the protected areas created
60 W/13 by one- and two-legged windbreaks with winds blowing in
40 W/4.5
different directions. Obviously, a shift in wind direction
could render a one-legged windbreak useless. Although a
20% porous 50 W/6
two-legged windbreak will help avoid this problem, the
60 W/13 protected area is still limited. Creating a full-perimeter
40 W/8 windbreak will provide the most reliable (and expensive)
40% porous 50 W/10 protection. Gaps will cause locally high wind speeds, so
60 W/12 openings required for access should be located on the
downwind face only.
40 W/7
60% porous 50 W/8.5
Applications for Concrete Placements
60 W/11 The application of windbreaks varies depending on the
concrete placement type:
(a) ••Slab-on-ground;
Wind direction
••Elevated slab; and
Windbreak Wind Windbreak ••Topping slab.
direction
Protected Slab-on-ground
zone Concrete slab-on-ground placements are usually strip or
(a) block placements that range in size from about 10,000 to
30,000 ft2 (900 to 2800 m2). Strip placements are usually in
(b) Wind direction width increments of column spacing (bays) and lengths of five
to 10 bays. Thus, for a typical 30 ft (9 m) column spacing,
Windbreak Windbreak concrete strips would be 30 ft (9 m) wide and up to 300 ft
(90 m) long. Contractors might place one, two, or three
strips in one concrete placement, resulting in total placement
(b) Protected Protected
zone Wind zone areas of 9000, 18,000, or 27,000 ft2 (850, 1700, or 2500 m2).
direction Based on Fig. 4 and Table 1, to reduce the wind speed by
50% everywhere on a concrete placement of width W, the
solid windbreak height H would need to be W/7. So, for a
30 ft (9 m) wide strip placement, H would need to be about
Fig. 5: The protected zones for windbreaks with one or two legs 4 ft (1.2 m).
(based on Reference 8): (a) a single leg provides protection only Assuming the wind will blow only across a strip place-
when the wind is perpendicular to the leg; and (b) two-legged ment, the length of a one-legged windbreak needed to
windbreaks protect the same area when winds are normal to protect the placement will be the placement length plus
either leg (based on Reference 8) two placement widths (L + 2W). Table 2 shows the windbreak

Table 2:
Requirements for windbreak to reduce wind speed by 50% over entire strip placement width
Placement Windbreak Windbreak length, Total Windbreak area,
Concrete placement: W x L, ft (m) area, ft2 (m2) height, ft (m) ft (m) ft2 (m2)
One strip: 30 x 300 (9 x 90) 9000 (850) 4 (1.2) 360 (110) 1440 (132)
Two strips: 60 x 300 (18 x 90) 18,000 (1700) 8 (2.4) 420 (130) 3360 (312)
Three strips: 90 x 300 (27 x 90) 27,000 (2500) 12 (3.6) 480 (150) 5760 (540)

Concrete international july 2012 37

height, length, and area required for placement widths of
30, 60, and 90 ft (9, 18, and 27 m). Values are rounded down
to the nearest 1 ft.
A schematic of the 30 ft (9m) placement (Fig. 6) shows
the relative scale of the windbreak. Whether temporary
plywood fencing or polyethylene sheeting attached to
dimension lumber frames are used, the cost will be significant,
depending on the ability to move and reuse the windbreak.
Windbreak
Windbreaks for block placements are even less economical
than windbreaks for strip placements. For example, consider
a 150 x 150 ft (46 x 46 m) slab-on-ground concrete placement
protected with a two-legged windbreak (Fig. 7). In order to
achieve a 50% reduction in wind speed, the windbreak
would need to be over 20 ft (6 m) tall. The length of each
leg of the windbreak would need to be 300 ft (90 m), so the
total windbreak area would be at least 12,000 ft2 (540 m2).
A 20 ft (6 m) tall windbreak would be particularly costly,
given that the design wind speed for a temporary barrier

30 ft
could be as high as 75% of the basic wind speed required
for the design of a permanent structure.9

Elevated slab
While perimeter safety fencing is common for elevated
construction, its height is generally limited to 4 ft (1.2 m),
so wind protection will be limited. The windbreak require-
ments for elevated concrete placements on reinforced
Strip concrete frames are similar to those for slabs-on-ground,
300 ft

Wind placement except the windbreaks need to be positioned above ground.

direction Because of the increased costs for labor and equipment to
transport materials and erect them, these windbreaks would
be even less economical than those for a slab-on-ground.
Fig. 6: To reduce wind velocity
by 50% over a 30 ft (9 m) wide
protected zone, a 4 ft (1.2 m)
Enclosed topping slab
high windbreak is needed. To Windbreaks for topping slabs placed on metal deck or
protect a 30 x 300 ft (9 x 90 m) precast members can be created by using wood and plastic
concrete strip placement, a sheathing around the building perimeter at each floor. This
30 ft

one-legged windbreak must be type of windbreak effectively eliminates the wind and is less
360 ft (110 m) long expensive to construct than other standing windbreaks.
30 ft Windbreaks for this type of concrete placement may be
economical, particularly when they also serve to enclose
Windbreak cold weather concreting operations.

Windbreaks May Be Impractical

Protected
zone Industry recommendations for windbreaks appear to
150 ft

have originated in the early 1940s and 1950s, when concrete

Block placements were relatively small and evaporation reducers
placement were not available. Windbreaks may be practical for small
placements, but their construction may not be feasible for
Wind large strip or block placements of slabs-on-ground or for
direction
some elevated slabs.
One alternative is to use ride-on finishing machines
equipped with containers holding evaporation reducers—
150 ft

solutions of organic chemicals in water that form a film

150 ft
Fig. 7: To reduce wind velocity by 50% for a 150 x 150 ft (46 x 46 m)
block placement, a windbreak must be 20 ft (6 m) high. Two
300 ft (90 m) long legs will provide the needed protected area,
but at a very high cost
over the bleed-water layer and reduce the rate of bleed-
water evaporation.5 As Section 5.10 of ACI 302.1R-0410
indicates, evaporation reducers “…can be sprayed on the
plastic concrete one or more times during the finishing
operation…” Another alternative is a spray-on concrete
finishing aid that does not retard evaporation but acts
similar to water-reducing agents that break up cement flocs.
This product is worked into the surface, freeing water
trapped within the cement flocs and reducing the likelihood
of plastic shrinkage cracking.

38 july 2012 Concrete international

References Construction (ACI 302.1R-04) (Reapproved 2008),” American Concrete
1. Kosmatka, S., and Wilson, M., Design and Control of Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2004, 76 pp.
Mixtures, Portland Cement Association, Skokie, IL, 2011, 440 pp.
2. ACI Committee 302, “Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Selected for reader interest by the editors.
Construction (ACI 302.1R-04),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington
Hills, MI, 2004, p. 63.
3. “Plastic Shrinkage Cracking (CIP 5),” National Ready Mixed Bruce A. Suprenant, FACI, is a Concrete
Concrete Association, Silver Springs, MD, 1998, p. 2. Consultant based in Boulder, CO. He is
a member of ACI Committees 117,
4. ACI Committee 305, “Guide to Hot Weather Concreting
Tolerances; 222, Corrosion of Metals in
(ACI 305R-10),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, Concrete; 228, Nondestructive Testing
2010, p. 4. of Concrete; 302, Construction of
5. ACI Committee 308, “Guide to Curing Concrete (ACI 308R-01) Concrete Floors; C640, Craftsmen
(Reapproved 2008),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, Certification; and the Construction
Liaison Committee.
2008, 30 pp.
6. Gloyne, R.W., “Some Effects of Shelterbelts upon Local and
Micro Climate,” Forestry, V. 27, No. 2, 1954, pp. 85-95. Ward R. Malisch, FACI, is Technical
7. Hagen, L.J., and Skidmore, E.L., “Turbulent Velocity Fluctuations Director for the American Society of
Concrete Contractors (ASCC). He
and Vertical Flow as Affected by Windbreak Porosity,” Transactions of
has been an ACI member for
the ASAE, V. 14, No. 4, 1971, pp. 634-637. more than 40 years, is a licensed
8. Brandle, J.R., and Finch, S., “How Windbreaks Work,” University professional engineer, and has
of Nebraska Extension EC 91-1763-B. answered contractor questions on all
9. “Design Loads on Structures during Construction (SEI/ASCE aspects of concrete construction via
the ASCC hotline for more than 20 years.
37-02),” American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA, 2002, 36 pp.
10. ACI Committee 302, “Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab

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Concrete international july 2012 39