Lect# 3 Extreme Weather Concreting

Properties of structural materials
An introduction to
Extreme Weather Concreting
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf,

C.ED, U.E.T, Lhr
There are two major extreme weather conditions:-
 Hot weather concreting
 Cold weather concreting
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Properties of Structural Materials Hot Weather Concreting
EXTERME WEATHER CONCRETING:-
• In countries which experience extreme weather

condition during a year, special problems are
encountered in preparation, transporting, placement
and curing of the concrete.
• Pakistan has regions of extreme hot weather (hot –

humid and hot-air) as well as cold weather. So,
measures need to be considered while concreting
under such environment.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
HOT- WEATHER CONCRETING:
Hot weather, as defined by ACI 305R-10, is any condition

that tends to impair the quality of freshly mixed or hardened
concrete by accelerating the rate of moisture loss and rate of
cement hydration.
ACI 305R Guide to Hot Weather Concreting, states that
―Concrete can be produced in hot weather without maximum

limits on placing temperature and will perform satisfactorily if
proper precautions are observed in proportioning, production,
delivery, placing and curing. As part of these precautions, an
effort should be made to keep concrete temperature as low
as practical.‖
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
HOT- WEATHER CONCRETING:
Other standards, in order to avoid hot climate
problems, impose a maximum limit of temperature.
• BS 8110: Part 1: 1985 (British standard), at placing

time no part of the concrete must have a
temperature exceeding 30 °C, and the desirable
value is generally 27°C.
• ASTM C 94 (AASHTO-M157) for ready-mix

concrete, also give a limit of the temperature of the
concrete when casting between 29 ° C and 32 ° C.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

HOT WEATHER? (ACI-305-R)
 Conditions that tends to impair the quality of freshly
mixed concrete or hardened concrete by
accelerating the rate of moisture loss and rate of
cement hydration or otherwise causing detrimental
results.
Conditions that cause detrimental results include:
 High ambient temperature

 High concrete temperature
 Low relative humidity
 High wind speed
 Solar radiation
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
HOT- WEATHER CONCRETING :
 Most developing countries have hot climate, ordinary
jobsites in developing countries are characterised by
reduced human resources, equipment and infrastructures.
 Hot weather problems are in summer, but the associated
climatic factors of high wind , low relative humidity and the
solar radiations can occure at any time, especially in arid or
tropical climates/ regions.
 High relative humidity tends to reduce the effects of high
temperature
 Hot weather conditions can produce a rapid rate of
evaporation of moisture from the surface of the newly
placed concrete and can accelerate the setting time,
among other problems.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
HOT- WEATHER CONCRETING :
• Weather conditions at a jobsite may be vastly different
from optimum concrete placement conditions assumed at
the time a concrete mixture is specified, designed, or
selected.
• They rarely coincide with laboratory conditions in which

concrete specimens are stored and tested.
• Longer duration projects will require changes to the

concrete mixture as the seasonal weather changes.
• Hot weather conditions can adversely influence concrete

quality primarily by accelerating the rate of evaporation /
moisture loss and rate of cement hydration.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Potential problems of Hot Weather :
 In green state,
1) increased water demand
2) accelerated slump loss
3) Creates tendency to add water on site
4) increased rate of setting, resulting in greater difficulty

in handling, compacting, finishing and likelihood of
cold joints
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

5. increased tendency for plastic shrinkage cracking,

thermal cracking
6. difficulty in controlling air-content
7. reduced abrasion resistance
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

 In HARDENED state;
1. decreased strength resulting from adding water
2. increased permeability
3. increased tendency for drying shrinkage and differential
thermal cracking
4. decreased durability from cracking
5. variable surface appearance - cold joints, color differences
6. increased concrete temperature & Critical need for prompt
early curing
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
SUCCESSFUL CONCRETING;
Key for successful concreting is to;
1. Recognize the factors that affect the temperature

during concreting
2. Properly plan to minimize those effects
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

SUCCESSFUL HOT WEATHER CONCRETING;
Stages of concern relevant to factors affecting are;
i. Pre-planning
ii. Mixture proportioning,
iii. Hydration at early age,
iv. Mixing, Transportation, Placing and
v. Curing / prevention
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• Strength reduction by 12%
to 15%
• Durability and resistance to
cracking (due to volume
change) will still be
impacted
• Higher cement content will
further increase the
concrete temperature and
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
water demand.
Heat of hydration
Heat generated during hydration process depend on:
•The size of the concrete placement,
• its surrounding environment, and
•the amount of cement in the concrete.
General guideline - temperature rises by

2°C to 9°C per 45 kg in OPC from thin slab placing
This heat may need to be addressed when there is

•High temperature
•Massive placements
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Rule of thumb:
Setting time changes by about 33% for every 5°C (10°F) change
in the initial concrete temperature.
• Different cements behave differently and don’t always follow
this generalization, as can be seen in this graph
• Setting time can reduce by 2 or more hours with a 10°C
increase in concrete temperature
• Concrete should remain
plastic long enough so that
each layer can be placed
without development of cold
joints in the concrete.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Most favorable temperature:
 In which high quality freshly mixed concrete can be obtained
without artificial cooling.
• A concrete temperature of 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 60°F) is most

desirable to maximize beneficial concrete properties, but such
temperatures are not always practical.
• Many specifications require only that concrete when placed

should have a temperature of less than 29°C to 35°C (85°F to
95°F).
• As per ACI 301, concrete temperature should not exceed 35°C

(95°F), unless otherwise specified or permitted. Advanced
planning is required to get ambient conditions somewhere
between 24°C and 38°C (75°F and 100°F).
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Concrete discharge time:
To establish the maximum allowable time to discharge concrete
after batching, maximum concrete placement temperature limit
needs to be decided:
• Try to establish relationship for the property of interest
(workability, strength etc.) as a function of time at various
concrete temperatures
From previous acceptable field data and measures
adopted under certain circumstances or
If data not available then perform representative trial-batch
tests for typical section thickness
This process is not a guarantee of strength or durability as it is
too complex to simply limit the maximum temperature of
concrete as placed; circumstances and concrete requirements
vary too widely.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
When and which precaution to use depends on:
The type of member or construction;
characteristics of the materials being used; and
 the experience of the placing and finishing crew in
dealing with the atmospheric conditions on the site.
Availability of the suitable resources
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Precautions to Reduce the difficulties;
Possible precautions:
 Preconstruction conference
• organize a preconstruction conference to discuss the
precautions required for the project.
 Utilize proven mixtures

• use materials and mix proportions that have proven
performance in hot-weather conditions (lower cement contents,
and set retarding admixtures) and use a concrete consistency
(slump) that allows rapid placement and consolidation.
 Prepare (pre-dampen) surfaces on which concrete is placed to

minimize absorption of water from the fresh concrete.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

 Cool the concrete

• cool the concrete or one or more of its ingredients
 Reduce batch to finish time
• reduce the time of transport, placing, and finishing as much

as possible so as to reduce and minimize waiting time
 Favorable scheduling
• schedule concrete placements to limit exposure to harsh

atmospheric conditions. Consider night or more favorable
weather conditions for concrete placement like at night.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
 Reduce evaporation from surface
• consider methods to limit moisture loss during placing and

finishing, such as sunshades, windscreens, fogging, or spraying
• apply temporary moisture-retaining films to control evaporation

after strike-off and prior to finishing concrete.
 Monitor site conditions,
• including air-temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed to

assess need for evaporative control measures beginning 1 hour
before beginning concrete placement operations until accepted
curing procedures have been applied.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
• Measure air relative humidity at a level approximately 4 – 6 ft

above the evaporating surface.
• Measure the air-temperature surrounding the concrete at a
level 4 – 6 above evaporating surface
• Measure the average wind speed at 20 inches above the
evaporating surface
• On some projects, field-cured specimens are made in
addition to those destined for controlled laboratory curing.
These are especially useful when the weather is unfavorable,
to determine when forms can be removed, or when the
structure can be put into use.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Reducing detrimental effects: Cooling Concrete Materials:-
 All operations in hot weather should be
directed toward keeping the concrete
below specified temperature limits.
• For it, lower the temperature of
concrete materials before mixing by
cooling.
 The contribution of each material is
related to
–Temperature.
–Specific heat.
–Quantity of each material.
It is evident that although concrete

temperature is primarily dependent upon
the aggregate temperature, cooling the
mixing water can also be effective. Material temperature Vs
Temperature of fresh concrete.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Approximate temperature of concrete with ice:
Cont..,
• where Mi is the mass in kilograms of ice
• T = temperature of the freshly mixed concrete

• Ta, Tc, Tw, and Twa = temperature of aggregates, cement, added
mixing water, and free water on aggregates
• Ma, Mc, Mw, and Mwa = mass, kg (lb), of aggregates, cementing
materials, added mixing water, and free water on aggregates
• Mi = mass of ice
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Example calculations for initial concrete temperature:
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Example calculations:
• If ice is not added, the temp of concrete would be 31.1˚C

• The heat of fusion of ice in metric units is 335 kJ per kg.
• Calculations show the effect of 44 kg (75 lb) of ice in reducing the
temperature of concrete. Crushed or flaked ice is more effective than
chilled water in reducing concrete temperature. The amount of water
and ice must not exceed the total mixing-water requirements.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Cooling Concrete Materials
• Aggregates have a pronounced effect on the fresh concrete

temperature because they represent 70% to 85% of the total mass
of concrete.
• There are several simple methods of keeping aggregates cool.
Cooling effects are realized when stockpiles are shaded from the
sun and kept moist by sprinkling.
• Since evaporation is a cooling process, sprinkling provides effective
cooling, especially when the relative humidity is low.
• Do not cool aggregate stockpiles with seawater. Using seawater can
contribute to acceleration of concrete setting time and corrosion of
steel reinforcement.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Cooling Concrete Materials
• Sprinkling of coarse aggregates should be controlled to avoid
excessive variations in the surface moisture content which may
impact consistency.
• Refrigeration is another method of cooling materials. Aggregates can
be immersed in cold-water tanks, or cooled air can be circulated
through storage bins.
• Tanks and pipelines carrying mixing water should be buried,
insulated, shaded, or painted white to keep water as cool as
practical. Water can be cooled by refrigeration, liquid nitrogen, or ice.
• Cooling the mix water temperature 2.0°C to 2.2°C (3.5°F to 4°F) will
usually lower the concrete temperature about 0.5°C (1°F). However,
because mix water is such a small percentage of the total mixture, it
is difficult to lower concrete temperatures more than about 4°C (8°F)
by cooling the batch water alone.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Cooling Concrete Materials with ice
Cont..,
adding ice for substituting water in the concrete mix
 Ice both lowers the batch water

temperature and lowers the mix
temperature by extracting heat
during the phase change that
occurs as ice melts into liquid water.
 When ice is used, the ice must be
completely melted by the time
mixing is completed and the
concrete is discharged.
 When using crushed ice, care must
be taken to store it at a temperature
that will prevent the formation of
lumps.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Cooling Concrete materials using liquid nitrogen
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Precautions before Transporting, placing, and finishing:-
• Equipment for handling concrete should be shaded, painted white,
or covered with wet burlap to reduce the effect of solar heating.
Forms, reinforcing steel, and subgrade should be wetted with cool
water just before the concrete is placed.
• During placing and finishing operations, fogging can be directed
over the concrete surface
• Restrict concrete placements to early morning, late evening, or
nighttime hours
• Transporting and placing concrete should be completed as quickly
as practical
• Sufficient labor and equipment must be available at the jobsite to
handle and place concrete immediately upon delivery
• Prolonged mixing, even at agitating speed, should be avoided. If
delays occur, stopping the mixer and then agitating intermittently
can minimize the heat generated by mixing.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Precautions before Transporting, placing, and finishing:-
• Time limit for discharge may be reduced to 60 minutes or even 45
minutes
• If specific time limitations on the completion of discharge of the
concrete are desired, they should be included in the project
specifications.
• Extra care must be taken with placement techniques to avoid cold
joints
• Over vibration with internal vibrators should be avoided
• Internal vibrators produce significant amounts of heat and can
raise the temperature of the concrete locally by 10°C (18°F) or
more during a 10 second insertion
• Finishing on dry and windy days requires additional precautions to
minimize the potential for plastic shrinkage cracking.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Plastic shrinkage cracking :-
• Plastic shrinkage cracking is usually associated with hot-
weather concreting; however, it can occur any time ambient
conditions produce rapid evaporation of moisture from the
concrete surface.
• Plastic shrinkage cracks sometimes occur in the surface of
freshly mixed concrete soon after placement, during finishing
or shortly thereafter.
• These cracks which appear mostly on horizontal surfaces can
be substantially eliminated using preventive measures.
• These cracks occur when water evaporates from the surface
faster than it can travel to the surface during the bleeding
process. This condition creates rapid drying shrinkage and
tensile stresses in the surface that often result in short,
irregular cracks.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
The following conditions, individually or collectively, increase
evaporation of surface moisture and also increase the possibility of
plastic shrinkage cracking:
1. High cementitious materials content;
2. Low w/cm;
3. High concrete temperature;
4. High air temperature;
5. Low humidity; and
6. Wind.
The crack length is generally 50 mm to 1000 mm (a few inches to 3
ft) in length and they are usually spaced in a somewhat regular
pattern with an irregular spacing from 50 mm to 700 mm (a few
inches to 2 ft) apart.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
• The crack length is generally 50
mm to 1000 mm (a few inches to
3 ft) in length and they are
usually spaced in a somewhat
regular pattern with an irregular
spacing from 50 mm to 700 mm Spaced in an irregular pattern from 5
(a few inches to 2 ft) apart. to 60 cm
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Nomograph: For finding rate of evaporation (U.S. Navy)
It evaluates the evaporative potential of the environment, not the rate of water loss
from the concrete.
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Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Nomograph:
• Nomograph evaluates the evaporative potential of the environment, not

the rate of water loss from the concrete.
• When the rate of evaporation exceeds 1 kg/m2 per hour, precautionary

measures such as windscreens are required around all sides of concrete
elements.
• With concrete mixtures containing pozzolans, cracking is possible if the

rate of evaporation exceeds 0.5 kg/m2 per hour.
• Concrete containing silica fume is particularly prone to plastic shrinkage

because bleeding rates are commonly only 0.25 kg/m2 per hour.
• Therefore, protection from premature drying is essential even at lower

evaporation rates.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Precautions to Minimize Plastic Shrinkage Cracking:-
1. Moisten concrete aggregates that are dry and absorptive.
2. Keep the concrete temperature low by cooling aggregates and mixing

water.
3. Dampen the subgrade and fog forms prior to placing concrete.
4. Erect temporary windbreaks to reduce wind velocity over the concrete

surface.
5. Erect temporary sunshades to reduce concrete surface temperatures.
6. Protect the concrete with temporary coverings, such as polyethylene

sheeting, during any appreciable delay between placing and finishing.
7. Add plastic fibers to the concrete mixture to help reduce plastic shrinkage
crack formation.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Methods to Minimize Plastic Drying Shrinkage:-
• Use of a fog spray will raise the relative humidity of the ambient air
over the slab, thus reducing evaporation from the concrete.
• Fog nozzles atomize water using air pressure.
• Spray application of temporary moisture-retaining films (usually

polymers).
• Reduction of time between placing and the start of curing by

eliminating delays during construction.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Supplementary Cementitious Materials / Admixtures:-
• The use of supplementary materials (fly ash, ground
granulated blast furnace slag) can help in hot weather
conditions.
• These material slow the rate of setting as well as the rate of

slump loss.
• A retarding admixtures can be very helpful in delaying the
setting time, despite increased rate of slump loss resulting
from their use.
• A hydration control admixture can be used to stop

cement hydration and setting. As a general rule a 5°C to
9°C temperature rise per 45 kg of Portland cement can be
expected from the heat of hydration.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Fogging the concrete surface before and after final finishing
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Measures to avoid shrinkage cracks:
• Use of a fog spray directed at a level approximately 1.5 m (5 ft) above

the concrete surface will raise the relative humidity of the ambient air
over the slab, thus reducing evaporation from the concrete.
• Fog nozzles atomize water using air pressure (right) to create a fog
blanket
• Fogging should be continued until a suitable curing material such as
a curing compound, wet burlap, or curing paper can be applied.
• Other methods to prevent the rapid loss of moisture from the
concrete surface include a temporary application of plastic sheeting
to the surface, spray applications, and reducing placement time.
• The plastic sheeting, when used, is typically installed after strike-off
and removed immediately before finishing operations commence.
• Temporary moisture-retaining films can be applied immediately after
screeding to reduce water evaporation before final finishing
operations and curing commence.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Curing
Curing is the maintenance of satisfactory moisture content and
temperature in concrete during its early stages so that desired
properties may develop. The minimum recommended curing
period is 7 days (Fig. 4).
Inadequate curing
can cause plastic
shrinkage cracking
and impair strength
development and
durability.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Curing and protection
• The need for moist curing of concrete slabs is greatest during the first
few hours after finishing.
• To prevent the drying of exposed concrete surfaces, moist curing should

commence as soon as the surfaces are finished.
• When the air temperature is at or above 27°C, curing should be

accomplished by water spray or by using saturated absorptive fabric
• For mass concrete, curing should be by water for the basic curing
period when the air temperature is at or above 20°C, in order to
minimize the temperature rise of the concrete.
• On hardened concrete and on flat concrete surfaces in particular, curing water
should not be more than about 11°C (20°F) cooler than the concrete. This will
minimize cracking caused by thermal stresses due to temperature differentials
between the concrete and curing water
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
• Continuous moist curing for the entire curing period is
preferred
• Avoid wetting and drying of a surface.
• Surface properties such as abrasion and scaling resistance
can be markedly improved by wet-curing low w/cm
concrete.
• However, if moist curing cannot be continued beyond 24
hours, while the surfaces are still damp, the concrete should
be protected from drying with heat-reflecting plastic sheets,
or curing compounds.
• White-pigmented curing compounds can be used on
horizontal surfaces.
• Application of a curing compound during hot weather should
be preceded by 24 hours of moist curing
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
• Concrete surfaces should dry out slowly after the curing

period to reduce the possibility of surface crazing and
cracking.
• Crazing, a network pattern of fine cracks (shown) that do
not penetrate much below the surface, is caused by minor
surface shrinkage.
• Crazing cracks are very fine and barely visible except when
the concrete is drying after the surface has been wet.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
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Summary
Hot weather difficulties are mainly caused by high concrete
temperatures and rapid evaporation of water from
concrete. These conditions adversely affect the quality of
concrete since the rate of setting is accelerated, strength is
reduced and cracks may occur in either the plastic or
hardened state. Curing is more critical and air-entrainment
is more difficult to attain in hot weather. Field strength
specimens are affected in the same manner as the concrete
is in place. If all precautions and recommended ACI 305R
guidelines are followed, successful hot weather concreting
can be achieved.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
COLD WEATHER CONCRETING
(ACI-306R-88)
These conditions warrant special precautions when

placing, finishing, curing and protecting concrete against
the effects of cold weather.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

or when there is a probability of it falling below 5°C within 24 hours of placing
These conditions warrant special precautions when placing, finishing,

curing and protecting concrete against the effects of cold weather.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Cold weather concreting:-
• Concrete can be placed

safely without damage
from freezing throughout
the winter months in cold
climates if certain
precautions are taken.
When suitable preparations to build enclosures

and insulate equipment have been made, cold
weather is no obstacle to concrete construction.
Under these circumstances, all materials and equipment needed for

adequate protection and curing must be on hand and ready for use before
concrete placement is started. Normal concreting practices can be resumed
once the ambient temperature is above 10°C (50°F) for more than half a day.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Cont..,
• During cold weather, the concrete mixture and its temperature should
be adapted to the construction procedure and ambient weather
conditions.
• Preparations should be made to protect the concrete. The enclosures,

windbreaks, portable heaters, insulated forms, and blankets should be
ready to maintain the concrete temperature.
• Forms, reinforcing steel, and embedded fixtures must be clear of snow

and ice at the time concrete is placed.
• Thermometers and proper storage facilities for test cylinders should be

available to verify that precautions are adequate.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Initial set characteristics
as a function of casting
Approximate Setting Times temperature (Burg 1996).
at Different Temperatures
Rule of Thumb:
 ―For every 10°C (18°F) reduction in

concrete temperature, the times of
setting of the concrete will become
double...
thus increasing the amount of time
that the concrete is vulnerable to
damage due to freezing.‖
Final set characteristics
as a function of casting
temperature (Burg 1996).
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Effect of Temperature on Strength Development:-
 Here the concrete for the lower

curve was cast at 4°C (40°F)
and placed immediately in a
curing room at -4°C (25°F).
 Upper curve shows the
behavior of concrete at 23°C
 Both concretes received 100%

relative-humidity curing for first
28 days followed by 50%
relative-humidity curing
(Klieger 1958).
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Favorable temperature for long term Strength development at
various ages:
• Here for the same particular

mixture made with Type I
cement, the best temperature
for long-term strength (1 year)
is 13°C (55°F) (Klieger 1958).
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Effect of Casting
Temperature on Slump Relationship
b/w
Temperature,
Slump and Air
Content:
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Hydration Ceases at… ―-10 °C‖ (14 ºF);
The ice crystal formations occur as unhardened concrete freezes. They do

not occur in adequately hardened concrete. The disruption of the paste
matrix by freezing can cause reduced strength gain and increased porosity.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
EFFECT OF FREEZING FRESH CONCRETE:-
• Concrete gains very little strength at low temperatures. Freshly mixed
concrete must be protected against the disruptive effects of freezing until
the degree of saturation of the concrete has been sufficiently reduced by
the process of hydration. The time at which this reduction is accomplished
corresponds roughly to the time required for the concrete to attain a
compressive strength
• Concrete that has been frozen just once at an early age can be restored to
nearly normal strength by providing favourable subsequent curing
conditions.
• The critical period after which concrete is not seriously damaged by one or
two freezing cycles is dependent upon the concrete ingredients and
conditions of mixing, placing, curing, and subsequent drying.
• For example, air-entrained concrete is less susceptible to damage by early

freezing than non-air-entrained concrete.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Effect of Freezing Fresh Concrete:
• Up to 50% reduction of ultimate strength can occur if
frozen -
– Within a few hours
– Before reaching a strength of 3.5 MPa (500 psi)
• Frozen only once at an early age -

– With curing nearly all strength can be restored
– Less resistance to weathering
– More permeable
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

HEAT OF HYDRATION:-
• Concrete generates heat during hardening as a result of the chemical

process by which cement reacts with water to form a hard, stable
paste.
• The heat generated is called heat of hydration; it varies in amount and

rate for different cements. Dimensions of the concrete placement,
ambient air temperature, initial concrete temperature, water- cement
ratio, admixtures, and the composition, fineness, and amount of
cementitious material all affect heat generation and build-up.
• Heat of hydration is useful in winter concreting as it contributes to the

heat needed to provide a satisfactory curing temperature; often without
other temporary heat sources, particularly in more massive elements.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Hydration Stages (at 23°C):
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Retaining Heat of Hydration
• Fig. shows a concrete pedestal
being covered with a tarpaulin just
after the concrete was placed.
• Tarpaulins and insulated blankets
are often necessary to retain the
heat of hydration more efficiently and
keep the concrete as warm as
possible.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

METHODS TO ACCELERATE STRENGTH GAIN:-
• High strength at an early age is desirable in winter construction to reduce

the length of time for temporary protection required.
• High-early-strength concrete can be
obtained by using one or a combination of
the following:
1. Use Type III or high-early-strength cement

2. Use additional Portland cement (60 to 120
kg/m3 or 100 to 200 lb/yd3)
Thumb rule:
An increase of 1 sack of cement, will
improve the set time by about 1 hour
Early-age compressive-strength
relationships for Type I and Type III
portland cement concretes mixed and
cured at 4°C (40°F) compared to 23°C
(73°F)
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3. Chemical accelerators (ASTM C 494 or AASHTO M 194, Type C)
• Small amounts of an accelerator such as calcium chloride (at a

maximum dosage of 2% by weight of Portland cement) will:
• Accelerate the hydration (setting) and
• Gain early-age strength in concrete in cold weather.
Calcium chloride accelerators has potential for :

 Increasing drying shrinkage,
 reinforcement corrosion and concrete scaling
 Darkening concrete
So, Try for non-calcium chloride admixture
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

• Specially designed accelerating admixtures allow concrete to be placed at

temperatures down to -7°C (20°F).
• The purpose of these admixtures is to reduce the time of initial setting, but not
necessarily to speed up strength gain. Covering concrete to keep out moisture
and to retain heat of hydration is still necessary.
Finishing the concrete

flatwork can proceed
because a windbreak
has been provided, there
is adequate heat under
the slab, and the
concrete has low slump.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Crusting cracks typically happen during the concrete stamping process, which is
a way of adding texture or pattern to concrete surfaces. On sunny or windy days
where the top of the slab dries out quicker than the bottom, the top of
the concrete surface can become crusty
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Image result for concrete crusting
Surface Cracking and Surface
Crusting
Scaling cracks in concrete
Delamination and Blisters

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Example of Non-Chloride Accelerator Effect on Set Time
Mix @ 10 °C (50 °F) Initial Set (h:min) Difference

(h:min)
Plain (without accel.) 13:44 REF
Accel. @ 1300 mL/100 kg 7:11 - 6:33
Accel. @ 2600 mL/100 kg 6:05 - 7:39
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Permissible Concrete Temperatures at Placing:
As per CSA A23.1 (Cement association of Canada]
Thickness Temperature, °C
of Section, m Minimum Maximum
Less than 0.3 10 35
0.3-1 10 30
1-2 5 25
More than 2 5 20
Chapter14-Cold Weather Concreting-EB101 –Design and Control

of Concrete Mixtures—7th Canadian Edition, 2002.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

AIR-ENTRAINED CONCRETE:- Air Entrainment for Safety
Concrete considered to ultimately
be “unexposed” may well be
exposed during construction.
• Entrained air is particularly desirable in any
concrete placed during freezing weather.
Concrete that is not air entrained can suffer
strength loss and internal as well as surface
damage as a result of freezing and thawing
.
• Air entrainment provides the capacity to

absorb stresses due to ice formation within
the concrete.
Concrete floor saturated with rain, snow,
or water and then frozen, showing the
need for air entrainment
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Effect of F/T cycle on Strength of Non-Air-Entrained Concrete:
Effect of freezing and thawing

on strength of concrete that
does not contain entrained air
(cured 7 days before first
freeze) (Powers 1956).
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Recommended thickness vs. Concrete Temperatures—
Air-Entrained Concrete (ACI 306) Table 3.1 of ACI
306R-88
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Recommended Duration of Concrete Temp. in Cold Weather
(Tables 5.1 and 5.3 of ACI 306a)
Protection
from early-age freezing For safe stripping strength
Conventional High-early Convent. High-early-
concrete, strength concrete, strength
Service category days concrete, days days concrete, days
No load, not exposed,
2 1 2 1
favorable moist-curing
No load, exposed, but later
3 2
has favorable moist-curing
3 2
Partial load, exposed 6 4
Fully stressed, exposed See next slide (B)
For non air entrained concrete, ACI Committee 306 states that protection
for durability should be at least twice the number of days listed in Table A.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Duration of recommended protection for % of standd cured :-
• Fully exposed (subject to freeze/Thaw), air-entrained concrete (Table 6.8 of ACI 306R-88)
Days at 10°C (50°F) Days at 21°C (70°F)

Required
percentage of Type of portland cement Type of portland cement
standard-cured
28-day strength I II III I II III
50 6 9 3 4 6 3
65 11 14 5 8 10 4
85 21 28 16 16 18 12
95 29 35 26 23 24 20
• They are intended to represent the ages at which supporting forms can
be removed.
• The values shown are approximations and will vary according to the
thickness of concrete, mix proportions, etc.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Thermal Resistance (R) for 10-mm Thickness of Material
Density
Board and Slabs (m2 .°C) / W
(kg/m3)
Expanded polyurethane 24 0.438
Expanded polystyrene 29 0.277
Mineral fiberboard 256 - 272 0.204
Plywood 545 0.087
•Handbook of Fundamentals, American Society of

Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning
Engineers, Inc., New York, 1977 and
1981(ASHRAE)
•R values are the reciprocal of U values
(conductivity).
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Temperature of Materials on Concrete Temperatures:-
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Heating Mix Water and aggregate:-
Temperature of mixing water needed to

produce heated concrete of required
temperature.
Temperatures are based on the mixture
shown but are reasonably accurate for
other typical mixtures.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Max. Permissible Temp. Differential Between Concrete Surface
and Ambient Air — Wind up to 25 km/hr.
Max. permissible temp.
Thickness of differential, °C
•Length (L) shall be the concrete, L to H ratio of structure
longer dimension and the H m
is the height of the member 0 3 5 7 20 or more
0.3 29 22 19 17 12
•―0‖ Very high narrow
0.6 22 18 16 15 12
structure such as columns
0.9 18 16 15 14 12
1.2 17 15 14 13 12
1.5 16 14 13 13 12
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Checking Fresh Concrete Temperatures
A bimetallic pocket thermometer with a
metal sensor suitable for checking fresh
concrete temperatures
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Checking Hardened Concrete
Temperatures
Scheme for measuring concrete

temperatures below the surface with a
glass thermometer.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
(Continuous curing is possible only in lab.)
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Temperature of Test
Cylinders
Insulated curing box with

thermostat for curing test
cylinders. Heat is supplied by
electric rubber heating mats on
the bottom. A wide variety of
designs are possible for curing
boxes.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Heating the Materials:-
• Water
• Aggregates
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Insulating Blankets:-
Thermal resistance of 1.2

mineral fibre blanket
(50 to 70-mm thick) (m2 ·°C) / W
R-value is a measure of resistance

to heat flow through a given thickness
of material. • Stack of insulating blankets.
These blankets trap heat and
R-value is important that determines moisture in the concrete,
the effectiveness of providing beneficial curing
an insulation material.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF)
Insulating concrete
forms (ICF) permit
concreting in cold
weather.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Insulated Column Forms
With air temperatures down to -23°C, concrete cast

in the insulated column form made of 19-mm high-
density plywood inside, 25-mm rigid polystyrene in
the middle, and 13-mm rough plywood outside.
R value: 1.0 m2 · °C/W.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Enclosures:-
• Wood
• Canvas
• Tarpaulins
• Polyethylene Film
• (top) Tarpaulin heated enclosure

maintains an adequate temperature
for proper curing and protection
during severe and prolonged winter
weather.
• (bottom) Polyethylene plastic
sheets admitting daylight are used
to fully enclose a building frame.
The temperature inside is
maintained at 10°C with space
heaters.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Direct-Fired Heater:-
A direct-fired heater installed

through the enclosure, thus
using a fresh air supply.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Indirect-Fired Heater:-
An indirect-fired heater. Notice

vent pipe that carries
combustion gases outside the
enclosure.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

(Hydronic Heating heats water at its source via
super energy efficient Gas Boilers. Once used
the water is returned to be reheated via a
Hydronic Systems reticulating system.)
Hydronic system showing hoses (left)

laying on soil to defrost subgrade and
(right) warming the forms while fresh
concrete is pumped in.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Concrete maturity: (ASTM C1074);A Fast Approach for Estimating In-
Situ Compressive Strength;
• It is an index value that represents the progression of concrete

curing. It is based on an equation that takes into account
concrete temperature, time, and strength gain. Concrete
maturity is an accurate way to determine real-time strength
values of curing concrete.
• Maturity method is a relatively simple approach for estimating
the in-place compressive strength of concrete, specifically at
early ages less than 14 days. Once the maturity curve giving
maturity index is developed in the laboratory for a specific
project, it can be used for on-site estimation of compressive
strength of concrete in real-time.
The underlying assumption is that the strength development in

concrete is a linear function of hydration temperature.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
MATURITY CONCEPT:-
• The maturity concept is based on the principle that strength gain in
concrete is a function of curing time and temperature.
• Also, the equation is based on the premise that concrete gains strength
(that is , the cement continues to hydrate) at temperatures as low as -10°C
• The maturity concept, as described in ACI 306R-88 and ASTM C 1074 can
be used to evaluate strength development when the prescribed curing
temperatures have not been maintained for the required time or when
curing temperatures have fluctuated. The concept is expressed by the
equation
Metric: M =  (C + 10) t
Inch-Pound: M =  (F – 14) t
where
– M = maturity factor ,  = summation
– C = concrete temperature, degrees Celsius
– F = concrete temperature, degrees Fahrenheit
– t = duration of curing at temperature C (F), in hours
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Concrete maturity meter
Hydration can take place at minimum of -
10°C, below this water crystals (ice) do not
react with cement.
Datum Temperature = -10°C

If Day Temperature = 15°C then
Curing temperature = 15-(-10)=25°C
Maturity of concrete after 28 days kept at
25°C is given as
Maturity = 28 x 24 x (25-(-10)) = 23520°C hr.
Using a concrete maturity sensor allows you to collect

such data. The sensor works by measuring the
temperature of the concrete and then calculates
the concrete's strength/maturity through the calibration
data previously inputted by the user.
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf
• (Left) Automatic temperature recorder.
• (Right) Thermocouples and wiring at various

depths in a caisson
Dr. Muhammad Yousaf


Lect# 3 Extreme Weather Concreting

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Lect# 3 Extreme Weather Concreting

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Properties of structural materials

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf,

 Hot weather concreting

 Cold weather concreting

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

• In countries which experience extreme weather

• Pakistan has regions of extreme hot weather (hot –

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Hot weather, as defined by ACI 305R-10, is any condition

ACI 305R Guide to Hot Weather Concreting, states that

―Concrete can be produced in hot weather without maximum

• BS 8110: Part 1: 1985 (British standard), at placing

• ASTM C 94 (AASHTO-M157) for ready-mix

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Conditions that cause detrimental results include:

 High ambient temperature

• They rarely coincide with laboratory conditions in which

• Longer duration projects will require changes to the

• Hot weather conditions can adversely influence concrete

1) increased water demand

2) accelerated slump loss

3) Creates tendency to add water on site

4) increased rate of setting, resulting in greater difficulty

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

5. increased tendency for plastic shrinkage cracking,

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Key for successful concreting is to;

1. Recognize the factors that affect the temperature

2. Properly plan to minimize those effects

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Stages of concern relevant to factors affecting are;

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

General guideline - temperature rises by

This heat may need to be addressed when there is

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

• A concrete temperature of 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 60°F) is most

• Many specifications require only that concrete when placed

• As per ACI 301, concrete temperature should not exceed 35°C

The type of member or construction;

characteristics of the materials being used; and

 the experience of the placing and finishing crew in

dealing with the atmospheric conditions on the site.

Availability of the suitable resources

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

 Utilize proven mixtures

 Prepare (pre-dampen) surfaces on which concrete is placed to

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

 Cool the concrete

• reduce the time of transport, placing, and finishing as much

• schedule concrete placements to limit exposure to harsh

• consider methods to limit moisture loss during placing and

• apply temporary moisture-retaining films to control evaporation

 Monitor site conditions,

• including air-temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed to

• Measure air relative humidity at a level approximately 4 – 6 ft

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

It is evident that although concrete

• where Mi is the mass in kilograms of ice

• T = temperature of the freshly mixed concrete

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf

Dr. Muhammad Yousaf