HOT AND COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Acknowledgement

First of all we would like to thank to the Almighty God for helping us to done our seminar then
we would like to thank to express our gratitude and deep appreciation to our instructor Dr.
BELACHEW A. (PHD). For his valuable and excellence lecturing for undertaking the
assignment.

May 23, 2019

I
 HOT AND COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Executive summery
The seminar paper gives a review on extreme weathering concrete that means hot and cold
weather concrete. In the current scenarios different scholars and scientist said that the world
environment condition is change radically due to the emission of carbon di oxide to the
environment from the industry. Construction is one of the industry in the world thus one of the
material it use is concrete so the concrete is under this weather concrete either hot or cold
weather. On the other side concrete mainly gain its strength with hydration reaction this reaction
release heat to the environment. This paper mainly throws light on the hot and cold weathering
concrete, effect of hot and cold weather on concrete and precaution and recommendation on hot
and cold weather for concrete.

Key word: concrete, hot and cold weather

May 23, 2019

II
 HOT AND COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Abbreviation
ACI: America concrete institute

IS: Indian standard

BS: British standard

UN: United nation

May 23, 2019

III
 HOT AND COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

List of figure

Fig. 1. ACI monograph for estimating rate of evaporation of surface moisture from concrete

Fig. 2. Diagram of capillary stress in a cement matrix,

Fig. 3. Graphic representation of the liquid between two spherical particles.

Fig. 4. Cold Weather Concreting Image

Figure 5: setting time with temperature

Fig 6. Freezing and Thawing Effect Image

May 23, 2019

IV
 HOT AND COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Table of Contents pages

1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................1

1.2. Need of this seminar paper.......................................................................................................1

2. Hot and cold weathering concrete...............................................................................................2

2.1. Hot weather concrete................................................................................................................2

2.1.1. Effect of hot weathering concrete..........................................................................................3

2.1.2. Precautions for hot weather concrete.................................................................................7

2.2. Cold weathering concrete.........................................................................................................7

2.2.1. The effect of cold temperature...........................................................................................8

2.2.2. Precautions and recommendation for cold weather concrete...........................................10

References......................................................................................................................................13

May 23, 2019

V
1. Introduction
Concrete is an important construction material which find its applications in various types on
structures. Composition of concrete includes cement as well as coarse and fine aggregate with
suitable water ratio. Concrete has two phase to reach its final stage: fresh concrete and hard
concrete. After hardening, concrete is expected to fulfill the required strength to the structure.
Setting or hardening of concrete depends up on weather conditions. Final strength of concretes
depend up on weather conditions. Final strength of concrete greatly affected by degree of
temperature. Effects, precautions and suggestions are discussed below.[ CITATION Mue91 \l 1033 ]

It is generally well recognized that when concrete has to be mixed and placed in either very hot
or very cold weather, it is necessary to take precautions to ensure that the concrete is not
damaged or adversely affected by the ambient weather conditions. At temperatures below
freezing, for example, freshly placed concrete may be damaged by the formation of ice within its
pore structure. In very hot weather the concrete may stiffen prematurely, preventing it from
being compacted and finished properly, or the temperature of the concrete may rise to the point
where thermal cracking occurs as it cools. It is perhaps not so well recognized, however, that
even at moderate air temperatures, strong dry winds can cause concrete to dry out prematurely
and to crack [ CITATION Nev98 \l 1033 ].

There are a few fixed rules on what constitutes hot or cold weather in respect of concreting
operations. NZS 3109 Concrete Construction discusses the range 5°C to 30°C and AS 1379 The
Specification and Manufacture of Concrete to be within the range of 5°C to 35°C at the point of
delivery. Precautions will always be necessary when ambient air temperatures lie outside this
range [ CITATION ACI \l 1033 ]

1.2. Need of this seminar paper

Extreme weather events such as coastal storms and droughts, failure to reduce carbon emissions
and build climate resilience, and natural disasters are among the top risks that pose a serious
threat to global stability, according the latest Global Risks Report 2018 published by the World
Economic Forum. Speaking about the report, Alison Martin, Group Chief Risk Officer of Zurich
Insurance Group, said: “Extreme weather events were ranked as a top global risk by likelihood
and impact. Environmental risks, together with a growing vulnerability to other risks, are now
seriously threatening the foundation of most of our commons. Unfortunately, we currently
observe a too-little-too-late response by governments and organizations to key trends such as
climate change [CITATION htt \l 1033 ]. This was the reason today our planet becomes hot.

The seminar encouraged a new concept on extreme weather concrete (hot and cold weather
concrete) in order to avoid the problem related to the weather change. Concrete is mixed,
transported and placed as well as the cured on the open environment so in order to emit light on
it we are glad to write this seminar paper on hot and cold weather concrete.

2. Hot and cold weathering concrete

Weather conditions may greatly affect concrete quality. In this report the effect of cold and hot
weather on concrete is discussed. Precautions, materials and tools that may eliminate the
negative effects of weather are explained [ CITATION Kay03 \l 1033 ].

The air temperature by itself isn’t the determining factor on whether you should pour concrete.
The temperature of the air, the humidity level, and the wind speed, the temperatures of the
surface where you are placing the concrete, the water and the dry concrete in the bag all play a
huge part and must be taken into consideration. The air, wind and humidity are pretty much
beyond your control but some of the others you can influence. It is important to remember that
the temperature of the mixed material is as important as the air temperature [ CITATION AlF01 \l
1033 ].

2.1. Hot weather concrete

Hot weather may be defined as any period of high temperature in which special precautions need
to be taken to ensure proper handling, placing, finishing and curing of concrete. Hot weather
problems are most frequently encountered in the summer, but the associated climatic factors of
high winds and dry air can occur at any time, especially in arid or tropical climates. Hot weather
conditions can produce a rapid rate of evaporation of moisture from the surface of the concrete,
and accelerated setting time, among other problems. Generally high relative humidity tends to
reduce the effects of high temperature [ CITATION Awa02 \l 1033 ]. Hot weather is any
combination of the following conditions that tends to impair the quality of freshly mixed or
hardened concrete by accelerating the rate of moisture loss and rate of cement hydration, or
otherwise causing detrimental results [CITATION Jak \l 1033 ]:

 High concrete temperature;

 Low relative humidity;
 Wind speed
 Solar radiation.
 High ambient temperature

2.1.1. Effect of hot weathering concrete

The following are the effect of hot weather on concrete throughout the concrete that means from
the mixing period up to final setting time and durability of concrete [ CITATION Suy18 \l 1033 ].

1. Water demand and slump loss

The loss of workability is due to double action of evaporation of water and heat of hydration.
This can lead to a tendency to compensate the lack of workability by the addition of water with
detrimental consequences to the resistance and durability. Increasing the mixing water also
results in increased drying shrinkage.

2. Excessive evaporation

ACI Committee 305 indicate that precautions to remedy plastic shrinkage should be taken if
the evaporation rate approaches 1 kg/m²/h, this rate is estimated from the ACI 305
monograph (Fig. 1). Although this diagram has been criticized and new formulas more precise
and adequate to concrete have been proposed, because it connects to the evaporation of
an open surface of water rather than to a concrete surface, other researcher ensures that
the monograph gives reasonable evaporation rates when the climatic data are taken with
precise from jobsite
 Fig. 1. ACI monograph for estimating rate of evaporation of surface moisture from concrete

3. Plastic shrinkage

If the climatic conditions (temperature, relative humidity and wind) are severe, such as the
hot and arid climate and the form of the structure has a large free surface (such as slabs and
floors), water will evaporates from the surface more rapidly than bleeding rate (i.e. the rate
of rise of water), which will create capillaries pores between the solid particles (Fig. 2.);
and as a result, tensile stress will act to bring the walls of the capillaries pores closer
together (Fig. 3).
The hydrostatic tensile stress results from the concavity of the meniscus in the water-air
interface. This hydrostatic stress increases when the diameter of the meniscus decreases. If
this surface tension created by the evaporation of water from the concrete in the plastic state
is greater than the tensile strength of the concrete, concrete will crack due to plastic
shrinkage.
This cracks can have a length from 1 to 2 cm to 1 to 2 m, with a depth that can penetrate the
slabs, with depths greater than 23 cm, and thicknesses of 0.1 to 3 mm. It is clear
that, plastic shrinkage cracks weaken the structure, allow the penetration of water, making
rebar vulnerable to corrosion and reduce the durability.

Fig. 2. Diagram of capillary stress in a cement matrix, (a) initial state, (b) loss of water due to
evaporation, (c) formation of water menisci on the surface of the concrete, and (d) The opening
pressure due to excessive evaporation.
Fig. 3. Graphic representation of the liquid between two spherical particles.

4. Rise of temperature and thermal cracking

After remolding of a structural concrete elements its surface will cool more quickly than
its interior. Due to thermal contraction, the surfaces will be under traction and the inside
will be compressed. If the tensile stresses on the surfaces exceed the tensile strength, the
concrete cracks. Moreover, the high temperature of the interior of the concrete also
favors self-desiccation cracking.

5. Strength

The hydration reactions of cement are thermally activated; i.e., they are accelerated by
temperature. Which normally give great resistance, but this is true only at early age (<2
days). Some researches show that long-term strength (28 days) is reduced by accelerated
hardening. Probably because the hydration product of concrete which has accelerated hardening
is less dense than the hydration products of the concrete in normal temperature (20 ± 5 ° C).

6. Durability

The high temperature of concrete affects the initial workability and the rate of loss of
workability and consequently the tendency to add more water to the mixer in jobsite. This
would lead directly to concrete that is more vulnerable to freeze-thaw, climatic conditions,
sulphate attack and penetration of carbon dioxide and chloride solutions leading to
reinforcement corrosion. The low workability resulting from high temperature can lead to
low compaction which also leaves the concrete more vulnerable to deterioration. Plastic
shrinkage and thermal cracking at early ages are also classed as deterioration mechanisms
for concrete because they allow moisture, carbon dioxide, oxygen or chlorides to easily
access to concrete reinforcements.

2.1.2. Precautions for hot weather concrete

Precautions for hot-weather concreting should be initiated when the ambient temperature is
expected to exceed 30 to 35°C. Precautions Depends on, Type of construction, Characteristics
of the materials being used and the experience of placing and finishing crew in dealing with the
atmospheric conditions in the site [ CITATION ELR90 \l 1033 ]. These precautions may consist of
one or more of the following practices:

 Dampening forms, reinforcement and subcase

 Erecting wind breaks and sunshades to protect exposed concrete surfaces
 Cooling concrete ingredients
 (During transport of wet concrete) cooling containers, pipelines, chutes, etc.
 Completing the transporting, placing and finishing of concrete as rapidly as is practicable
 Informed usage of set-retarding admixtures (to counter premature stiffening of the fresh
mix)
 Immediately following the initial finishing operation, spraying a fine film of aliphatic
alcohol over the exposed concrete
 surface - to limit evaporation and help control plastic shrinkage cracking (this should be
repeated as necessary during
 any subsequent operations up to final finishing)
 Immediate curing after final finishing is complete
 Moist curing to control concrete temperature
 Restricting placing to night time when ambient temperatures are generally lower.

2.2. Cold weathering concrete

Concrete can be placed safely without damage from freezing throughout the winter
months in cold climates if certain precautions are taken. Cold weather is defined by ACI
Committee 306 as a period when for more than 3 successive days the average daily air
temperature drops below 5°C (40°F) and stays below 10°C (50°F) for more than one-half of any
24 hour period.

According to “The American Concrete Institute under (ACI 306R- 16”,) The conditions of cold
weather concreting exist when the air temperature has fallen to or is expected to fall below, 40°F
(4°C) during the protection period. The protection period is defined as the amount of time
recommended to prevent concrete from being adversely affected by exposure to cold weather
during construction [ CITATION Nab17 \l 1033 ].

Fig. 4. Cold Weather Concreting Image

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; 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 [ CITATION
Kay03 \l 1033 ].
2.2.1. The effect of cold temperature
As one knows concrete gets transformed from semiliquid to a solid or plastic state to hardened
state due to a chemical reaction known as hydration. The rate of hydration depends on the
temperature. When temperature increases the rate of hydration increases and when temperature
decreases the rate of hydration also decreases. If hydration is low then the process of
transforming from semiliquid to a solid is delayed and it affects the quality of concrete as well as
the economy of construction. Thus, this is essential that the temperature is maintained during the
placing of concrete and it should be above 4°C or 40°F. Cold weather can have a detrimental
effect on concrete for various reasons [ CITATION Kay03 \l 1033 ].

The prime effects of low temperature on freshly placed concrete are [ CITATION Mou97 \l 1033 ]:

1. A decrease in the rate at which the concrete sets and gains strength, with a resultant increase
in the time taken to finish the concrete; 
2. (At temperatures below freezing) physical damage to the concrete in the form of surface
scaling or bursting, and the cessation of hydration.
1. Delay in Setting and Hardening of Concrete

The setting of concrete is a stage in which concrete gets stiff to acquire the shape and hardening
of concrete is a stage of development of strength and after which concrete can carry the intended
loads. Both depend on the rate of hydration and the rate of hydration depends upon the
temperature. If the temperature is low, concrete takes a long time to set as well as longer time to
harden. The delay in setting time makes concrete vulnerable to frost attack and other disruptions
and delay in the hardening period does not allow removal of formwork in a short time period.
Due to this rate of work progress will be very slow and overall it affects the economy.
 Figure 5: setting time with temperature

2. Freezing of Concrete at an Early Age

Freezing of concrete is the development of solid water i.e. ice within the paste that disrupts the
paste, causing frost lenses to develop in the paste. In the fresh concrete, pores are filled with
water. When the temperature goes below freezing point, the free water contained in the plastic
concrete freezes. When water freezes to ice it occupies almost 9% more volume than the water.
Freezing of water also prevents the hydration of cement and also makes the concrete expand.
This expansion causes deterioration of concrete.

3. Repeated Freezing and Thawing of Concrete

Climatic condition varies in the cold weather regions due to which fresh concrete or hardened
concrete gets exposed to freezing and thawing cycles and will continue throughout successive
winter seasons resulting in repeated loss of concrete surface and other qualities. Due to this
durability of concrete gets greatly impaired. Freezing and thawing may also exert fatigue in the
concrete.
 Fig 6. Freezing and Thawing Effect Image

4. Stresses Due to Temperature Differentials

In the cold weather, large temperature differentials are likely to occur at the time of removal of
form insulations. Such temperature differentials within the concrete member may promote
cracking and have a harmful effect on the durability.

2.2.2. Precautions and recommendation for cold weather concrete

Pre-Preparation of Cold Weather Concreting: Prior preparation of the concreting and as
precautions for cold weather concreting work strategies shall be completed well in advance such
as windbreakers shall be erected to protect the mixing and batching plant, materials, forms,
plastic sheets and other covering and insulating materials shall be made available at the site.

Well-defined temperature record chart including concrete temperature and exterior temperature
should be kept on site. Before placing of concrete, all frozen material like ice, snow, and frost
should be cleaned from the ground and never place concrete over frozen subgrade or on
something that contains frozen materials.

Freshly excavated earth should be covered with insulated blankets to preserve the natural warmth
of the subsoil and don’t remove the blankets until you begin to pour the concrete.

Ingredients Used for Cold Weather Concrete: Concrete in cold weather is recommended to
have a low slump, and nominal water-cement ratio, to reduce bleeding and decreases setting
time. Low-slump concrete minimizes bleeding. Don’t seal freshly placed concrete until it has
bleed and the setting process has begun.
Air entraining admixtures can also be used in cold weather concrete and it should have the
correct amount of air entrained voids that will resist freezing and thawing effects. Accelerating
admixtures may also help to reduce the effect of freezing and thawing. High-early-strength
cement can also be used. When there is no other option, adding cement to the mix will help not
much but to a certain level for maintaining the concrete temperature.

Concrete Covering Material: During cold weather, surfaces of all concrete should be covered
to preserve the heat and to help freezing prevention. You can use concrete covering material such
as expanded polystyrene, plastic sheets, and waterproof paper etc.

Heated enclosures or insulation blankets are commonly used for protecting concrete when air
temperatures are near or below freezing and be sure that enclosures or insulation blankets must
be windproof and weatherproof. Enclosures may be heated by steam, steam pipes and other types
of heaters and it may be made of wood, canvas, fiber insulation board, plywood etc.

Formwork: Insulating material should be placed against any formwork before concreting and
the same can be used as protection after the formwork has been stripped.

Forms should not be released until the concrete has achieved the strength of at least twice the
stress to which the concrete may be subjected at the time of removal of formwork.

Cold Weather Concrete Curing: In cold weather concrete curing, water curing is not
necessary because of the loss of moisture from the concrete by evaporation is greatly reduced in
cold air conditions. You can use concrete curing blankets in cold weather concrete curing to
prevent freezing and keep the concrete at an optimum curing temperature.

Inspection during Cold Weather Concreting: During cold weather concreting, keep some
personnel inspection data such as a record of the date, time, outside air temperature, a
temperature of concrete at the time of placing and general weather (calm, windy, clear, cloudy,
etc.).

This knowledge is helpful and essential to homeowners and businesses who hire concrete
contractors and deal with such kind of weather condition. Because, in the cold weather
concreting, concrete will develop sufficient strength and durability to satisfy the proposed
service recommendations only when it is properly proportioned, produced, placed, and protected.
Thus, it’s essential to increase the degree of protection as the ambient temperature decreases.

References

ACI. (n.d.). ACI manual of concrete practice part 2. Detroit, Michigan.

Al-Fadhala, M. a. (2001). construction and building materiuals Volume 15. No.1 page 1-7.

Alliosnn A.K, Jakison. (n.d.). Retrieved from file:///D:/Cold%20Weather%20Concreting

%20%20%20Precautions%20&%20Effects.html

Awad K. W., M. a. (2002). quality control and innivation in materials /hot weather concrte. ACI
fifth international conference. Mexico .

Bella, N. (January 2017). A review of hot climate concreting, and the appropriate procedures for
ordinary jobsites in developing countries. MATEC web of conference , 794.

E.A., K. (2003). Hot and cold weathering concreting; in advance concrete technology, concrete
properties. India .
M.S., E. R. (1990). Remedies to rapid setting in hot-weather concreting. Barcelona: Admiture
for concrte improvement of properties symposium.

Mouret M., B. a. (1997). Drops summer related strength in summer related to the aggregate
temprature. . Pergamon, Elsevier USA: cement and concrete research .

Muedock L. J., B. K. (1991). concrete material and pracice . London: Edward Arnold Edition.

Neville, A. (1998). Properties of concerte 4th eddition . New york.

Oh, S. H. (April 4, 2018). Effect of Mixing and Placing in Hot Weather on Hardened Concrete
Properties. International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials, 50-78.

Ridge, D. J. (2008). The Effect of Elevated Temperature on Concrete Materials and Structures.
National Labratory managed .

UN. (17 JAN, 2018). Extreme Weather and Climate Change Among Top Risks Facing World -
WEF. United nation climate change .