Early Age Thermal Movements of Mass Concrete Constructions

Assumptions, limitations and the factors influencing the development of the Early Age Thermal Movements (EATM) and cracking in mass concrete show that restraint to this movement in concreting has significant influence on the durability, serviceability and aesthetically aspects of concrete structures. This consists of either internal restraint caused by differential expansion within concrete member during heating due to larger temperatures differential and thermal gradient between the core, and that the adjacent media or by external restraint to contract on cooling from a temperature peak of the concrete elements are the critical factors in developing EATC. Collected data are analysed and compared with each other as well as with published results in first volume of book and comparison shows good correlation between results. These factors are investigated to understand EATC mechanism and since, most efforts to control this type of cracking have been by specifically designing distribution reinforcement, which is proving uneconomic and is not a fail-safe technique. So recommendations are made based on these findings to minimise all factors influencing on movements and restraints.