6/24/2023

Cold and Hot Weather Concreting

Concrete Construction (CoTM 6022)

MSc Program in Construction Technology and Management COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

College of Engineering and Technology, Wachemo University

Department of Construction Technology & Management

Behailu Z., (Ph.D. Candidate, BiT, BDU)

June, 2023 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 2

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Cold Weather Setting Times at
(ACI 306 Definition) Different Temperatures
• Average daily temperature Temperature Approx. Setting Time
<5ºC (40ºF) for 3 successive 21 oC (70 oF) 6 Hrs
days 16 oC (60 oF) 8 Hrs
• Stays <10ºC (50ºF) for more 10 oC (50 oF) 11 Hrs
than ½ of any 24h period 4 oC (40 oF) 14 Hrs
-1 oC (30 oF) 19 Hrs
-7 oC (20 oF) Set doesn’t occur-concrete
will freeze

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 3 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 4

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Rule of Thumb
Effect of Temperature
“For every 10°C (18°F) reduction in concrete on Strength Development

temperature, the times of setting of the

concrete double...”

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 5 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 6

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COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Hydration

Effect of Low Ceases/Stops

Temperatures on at… 14 ºF
Strength

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 7 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 8

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Effect of Casting Temperature on Slump

Whoops!!!

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 9 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 10

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Relationship Between Temperature, Slump and Air Content
Rule of Thumb

• “For every 10°C (18°F) reduction in concrete

temperature, the times of setting of the concrete
double, thus increasing the amount of time that the
concrete is vulnerable to damage due to freezing.”

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 11
Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 12

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COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Effect of Freezing • Up to 50% reduction of ultimate Evaporation of
strength can occur if frozen —
Fresh Concrete Surface Moisture
• Within a few hours from Concrete
• 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
Inch-Pound
Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 13 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 14

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Air Entrainment for Safety

Concrete considered to
ultimately be “unexposed”
may well be exposed during
construction.

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 15
Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 16

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Surface Temperature Limitations Methods to accelerate strength gain:

(ACI 306)

• Type III or HE high-early-strength cement

• Above freezing (at least 35°F)
• Additional Portland cement (60 to 120 kg/m3)
• No more than 10 °F higher than minimum placement temp. • Chemical accelerators

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 17 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 18

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COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Accelerating Admixtures

ASTM C 494 or
Accelerate the rate of:
AASHTO M 194, Type C  Hydration (setting)
Early-Age Strength
 Early-age strength gain

Calcium chloride accelerators:

 Increase drying shrinkage, potential
reinforcement corrosion, potential scaling
 Darken concrete

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 19
Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 20

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Recommended Concrete Temperatures—Air-Entrained Concrete (ACI 306)
Non-Chloride Accelerator Caution Thickness of sections, mm (in.)
Line Condition Less than 300 to 900 (12
Quote from typical accelerator literature 300 (12) to 36)
1 Minimum Above -1°C (30°F) 16°C (60°F) 13°C (55°F)
• “… the concrete producer should account for the water temperature of
-18°C to -1°C (0°F to
2 fresh concrete 18°C (65°F) 16°C (60°F)
contained in the (accelerator). Each Liter of (accelerator) as mixed for 30°F)
weather
added to a concrete mix will contribute 0.78 kg (6.5 3 Below -18°C (0°F) 21°C (70°F) 18°C (65°F)
indicated.

lbs/gal) of water to that mix.” Minimum temperature of fresh concrete as

4 13°C (55°F) 10°C (50°F)
placed and maintained.

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 21 Behailu Z. 22

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Heating Materials
Effect of Materials Temperature
on Concrete Temperatures
0.22(TaMa + TcMc) + TwMw + TwaMwa • Water
T= 0.22(Ma + Mc) + Mw + Mwa
T = temperature of the freshly mixed concrete, °C (°F)
• Aggregates
Ta, Tc, Tw, and Twa = temperature in °C (°F) of aggregates, cement, added
mixing water, and free water on aggregates, respectively
Ma, Mc, Mw, and Mwa = mass, kg (lb), of aggregates, cementing materials,
added mixing water, and free water on aggregates, respectively.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.)
Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 23 24

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COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Heating Criteria
• For plants seeking certification to supply concrete in subfreezing weather i.e., where concrete is
placed regularly during sub-freezing weather, minimum heating capacity for water and/or
aggregate of 15 boiler output horsepower per 100 cubic yard (76.45 m3) average daily cold
Heating Mix Water weather production.

• (May be reduced to 10 bph if storage capacity permits round-the-clock operation of heating

equipment.)

• One boiler horsepower = 33,500 BTU per hour transferred to the water. 1 BTU = the amount of
heat energy required to raise 0.4 kg of water by -17 oC (1 oF) in one hour.

bhp: a unit measurement of the ability (thermal energy rate ) of a boiler required to
evaporate 15.6 kg of water at 100 oC in one hour.
Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 25 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 26

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Recommended Duration of Temperature
Air-entrained concrete
Admixtures Protection from early-age
For safe stripping strength
freezing
Service category Convent. High-early
Convent. High-early-strength
concrete, strength concrete,
• Protect from freezing days days
concrete, days concrete, days

No load, not exposed,

2 1 2 1
• Agitate if necessary 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
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.)
Behailu Z. 27 Mitiku D., (Ph.D.)
Behailu Z. 28

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Recommended Duration of Temperature Retaining Heat of Hydration
Fully stressed, exposed, air-entrained concrete
Insulating Blankets
Days at 10°C (50°F) Days at 21°C (70°F)
Type of portland cement Type of portland cement
Required percentage of standard
- cured 28-day strength I or GU II or MS III or HE I or GU II or MS III or HE
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

Behailu Z.(Ph.D.)
Mitiku D., 29 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 30

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COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Enclosures

Heated
• Wood Enclosure
• Canvas
• Tarpaulins
• Polyethylene Film

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 31 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 32

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Direct-Fired Heater Indirect-Fired Heater

Behailu
Mitiku D., Z.
(Ph.D.)
33 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 34

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Hydronic Systems Protect from Thermal Shock

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 35 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 36

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COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Cooling After Protection Maturity Concept
Maximum Temperature Drop in 24 Hours Metric: M =  (C + 10) t
Inch-Pound: M =  (F – 14) t
Section size, minimum dimensions, mm (in.) where
• M = maturity factor
Less than 300 to 900 900 to 1800 Over •  = summation
300 (12) (12 to 36) (36 to 72) 1800 (72) • C = concrete temperature, degrees Celsius
• F = concrete temperature, degrees Fahrenheit
• t = duration of curing at temperature C (F),
28°C 22°C 17°C 11°C usually in hours
(50°F) (40°F) (30°F) (20°F)

BehailuMitiku
Z. D., (Ph.D.) 37
Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 38

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Maturity Concept
Hydration can take place at minimum of -10°C, below this water crystals
(ice) do not react with cement.

Maturity of concrete after 28 days kept at 25°C is given as

• Maturity = 28 x 24 x (25-(-10)) = 23520°C hr.

Concrete is fully matured when it is cured at 18°C till 28 days. For

ordinary concrete maturity should not be less than 19800°C hr

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 39 Behailu Z. 40

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Rigid
Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) Insulated Column Forms High-density plywood polystyrene

Rough
plywood

Behailu
Mitiku D., Z.
(Ph.D.) 41 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.)
42

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COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Durability of Non-Air- HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

Entrained Concrete

Behailu Z. 43 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 44

HOT WEATHER CONCRETING HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

Effects of Hot Weather on Concrete Precautions
• Cool concrete
• Increased water demand
• Cool concrete ingredients
• Accelerated slump loss
• Reduce the time of transport, placing
• Faster set
and finishing
• Increased tendency for plastic cracking
• Use sunshades, windscreens, fogging,
• Difficulties controlling entrained air or spraying to limit moisture loss
• Increased potential for thermal cracking during placing and finishing

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 45 Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 46

HOT WEATHER CONCRETING HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

Effect of Concrete
Effect of Concrete
Temperature on Water Temperature on
Requirement Setting Time

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HOT WEATHER CONCRETING HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

Effect of Ice on Temperature of Concrete

0.22(TaMa + TcMc) + TwMw + TwaMwa – 80Mi

T (ºC) =
0.22(Ma + Mc) + Mw + Mwa + Mi
Effect of Concrete 0.22(TaMa + TcMc) + TwMw + TwaMwa – 112Mi
Temperatures on T (ºF) =
0.22(Ma + Mc) + Mw + Mwa + Mi
Strength

Mitiku D., (Ph.D.)

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 49 Behailu Z. 50

HOT WEATHER CONCRETING HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

Plastic Shrinkage Cracking
• Caused by evaporation of
surface moisture, increased
by:
• High concrete temperature
• Low humidity
• High wind speed
Precautions to Minimize Plastic Shrinkage Cracking
• Moisten aggregates
• Cool aggregates and mixing water
• Dampen subgrade
• Erect temporary windbreaks and sunshades
• Cover concrete
• Fog slab immediately after placing
• Add plastic fibers

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 51 Behailu Z. Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 52

HOT WEATHER CONCRETING HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

Relationship Between Initial Set
Fogging and Casting Temperature

Behailu Mitiku
Z. D., (Ph.D.) 53 Behailu Z. Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 54

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HOT WEATHER CONCRETING HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

Relationship Between Final Set Relationship Between Slump and
and Casting Temperature Casting Temperature

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HOT WEATHER CONCRETING HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

Checking Fresh Concrete Temperatures

Checking Hardened
Concrete Temperatures

Behailu Z.
Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 57 Behailu Z.Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 58

HOT WEATHER CONCRETING

Temperature of Test Cylinders

Thank You!

Behailu Z. Mitiku D., (Ph.D.) 59 Behailu Z.

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