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Cold Weather Concreting

This document discusses considerations for cold weather concreting. The main objectives are to prevent freezing, ensure concrete reaches strength for loading, maintain curing conditions, and limit temperature changes. Concrete placement temperatures should not exceed targets by over 27°C. Subgrades must be above freezing and free of snow/ice. Weather must be monitored and materials prepared ahead of time to protect concrete during its critical first 24-48 hours. Proper preparation and precautions are needed to ensure quality concrete when temperatures are cold.

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33 views

Cold Weather Concreting

This document discusses considerations for cold weather concreting. The main objectives are to prevent freezing, ensure concrete reaches strength for loading, maintain curing conditions, and limit temperature changes. Concrete placement temperatures should not exceed targets by over 27°C. Subgrades must be above freezing and free of snow/ice. Weather must be monitored and materials prepared ahead of time to protect concrete during its critical first 24-48 hours. Proper preparation and precautions are needed to ensure quality concrete when temperatures are cold.

Uploaded by

ABAMELA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cold Weather Concreting

• Cold weather exists when, for more than 3


consecutive days, the following conditions
are present:
– Average daily temperature is less than 40 F
– Air temperature is not greater than 50 F for
more than one-half of any 24-hour period
The Main Objectives
• Prevent concrete from freezing at an early
age (first 24-48 hours)
• Assure concrete reaches strength for loading
or form removal
• Maintain normal curing conditions
• Limit rapid temperature changes
Concrete Placement Temperatures

• Don’t exceed placing temperature target by


more than 27 C
• Higher temp requires more water, increases
rate of slump loss, and increases thermal
cracking
Preparation Before Placement
• Temperature of surfaces in contact with the
concrete should be above freezing (35 F)
• Embedment should have temp above 10 F
• All snow, ice, and frost must be removed
• Never place on a frozen subgrade. Cover
subgrade with insulated blankets a few days
prior to concrete placement.
Other Considerations

• Discuss all aspects of cold weather


concreting at the pre-construction meeting
• Watch weather in the spring and fall, must
provide protection during first 24-48 hours
after placement
Be Prepared!!!
• Monitor the weather forecast
• Monitor the temperature of the concrete
• Have all materials available before placing
concrete
• Anticipate the worst case and be prepared
for it
• Schedule the placement during the warmest
part of the day
Remember!!!

• If you need a coat to be comfortable outside, so does the


concrete!!!
What is Hot Weather
Concreting?
• When concrete is mixed, transported, and
place under conditions of high ambient
temperature, low humidity, solar radiation,
or wind, an understanding of the effects
there environmental factors have on
concrete properties and construction
operations is required (ACI 305).
General
• Initial curing of concrete test specimens for
checking adequacy of mix for strength or
basis of acceptance are cured initially at 60°
to 80°F (16° to 27°C), ASTM C31
• 24hr cure at 100°F, 28 day may be 10 to 15
percent lower than cured ASTM C31
• drying at early age, strengths will be
reduced even further
Definition of Hot Weather
• High ambient temperature
• High concrete temperature
• Low relative humidity
• Wind velocity
• Solar radiation
• Hot weather is any combination of the
above which impair quality of fresh or
hardened concrete and/or cause detrimental
results
Hot Weather
• Hot weather concrete problems generally
occur during the summer season
• Thermal shrinkage is more severe in the
spring and fall (temperature differential)
• When air temperatures are identical, a calm,
humid day is less severe than a dry, windy,
sunny day
Potential Problems in Hot
Weather - Plastic Concrete
• Increased water demand
• Increased rate of slump loss, tendency to
add water at the jobsite
• increased rate of setting, resulting in
difficult handling, finishing, and risk of cold
joint
• Increase for plastic shrinkage
• Increased difficulty in controlling entrained
air content.
Potential Problems in Hot
Weather - Hardened Concrete
• Decreased 28 day and later strengths, higher
water demand, concrete temperatures
• Increase for drying shrinkage and thermal
cracking
• Decreased durability from cracking
• Increased permeability
• Increased potential for reinforcing steel
corrosion due to increased cracking
Avoiding Potential Problems
• Use concrete materials and proportions with
satisfactory records in hot weather
• Use cool concrete
• Use a concrete consistency that permits
rapid placement and effective consolidation
• Transport, place, consolidate, and finish
with least delay
• Protect concrete against moisture loss at all
times, during placement and curing period
Temp, Slump, & Water Demand
Questions?

• Remember:
– Use Common Sense
– Temperature effects
on your body have
very similar effects
on concrete
– If you are not sure,
ASK!!!

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