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Home > News > News Detail
12/6/2016
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Proper cold weather concreting practices help concrete placed in cold conditions develop the intended strength and durability Concrete can’t be placed once the cold weather sets in. Not true, according to the new ACI 306R-16 Guide to Cold Weather Concreting. “Concrete placed during cold weather, protected against freezing, and properly cured for a sufficient length of time, has the potential to develop higher ultimate strength and greater durability than concrete placed at higher temperatures”— ACI 306R-16 According to the new ACI 306 Guide, proper cold weather concreting practices help concrete placed in cold conditions develop the intended strength and durability. To achieve these objectives, the following information is provided: At about the time that concrete reaches a compressive strength of 500 psi (3.5 MPa), sufficient mixing water is expected to have combined with cement during hydration, thereby decreasing the degree of saturation of the concrete to below the critical level (level at which a single cycle of freezing causes damage). Most well-proportioned concrete mixtures reach this strength at 50°F (10°C) within 48 hours. If the concrete freezes before it reaches 500 psi (3.5 MPa), other ACI 306 objectives, such as strength gain and long-term durability, can’t be accomplished. When no external water is available, the degree of saturation of newly placed concrete decreases as the concrete matures and the mixing water combines with cement during hydration. Additionally, mixing water is lost to evaporation even at cold temperatures. Under such conditions, the degree of saturation falls below the critical saturation. Critical saturation is the level at which a single cycle of freezing can cause damage.” “This new Guide emphasizes recommendations rather than requirements and incorporates findings of new research while addressing concerns from the contracting community about restrictions relating to pre-placement conditions” – William J. Lyons, Chair, ACI Committee 306, Cold Weather Concreting The importance of determining what surface and embedment temperatures may be detrimental to concrete is discussed in this Concrete International article. This information can be used to develop concreting strategies that provide effective, cost-efficient, and environmentally responsible protection of fresh concrete. The new ACI 306R-16 Guide to Cold Weather Concreting highlights one of ACI’s Strategic Plan goals—to proactively gather and share information on transformational ideas, practices, and techniques. A new ACI University webinar on January 31, 2017, will review updates to ACI 306R-16, “Guide to Cold Weather Concreting,” provide a contractor perspective on field applications for cold weather concreting, review research on the placement of concrete on cold surfaces, and address the practice of heating formwork and reinforcement prior to placement. Learn more. More ACI resources on Cold Weather Concreting ACI University Online Presentations: Cold Weather Concreting: What to Prepare to Keep Concrete Construction Continuing Guide to Cold Weather Concreting: Chapter 8 Protection Against Freezing for Structural Concrete
Proper cold weather concreting practices help concrete placed in cold conditions develop the intended strength and durability
Concrete can’t be placed once the cold weather sets in. Not true, according to the new ACI 306R-16 Guide to Cold Weather Concreting.
According to the new ACI 306 Guide, proper cold weather concreting practices help concrete placed in cold conditions develop the intended strength and durability. To achieve these objectives, the following information is provided:
At about the time that concrete reaches a compressive strength of 500 psi (3.5 MPa), sufficient mixing water is expected to have combined with cement during hydration, thereby decreasing the degree of saturation of the concrete to below the critical level (level at which a single cycle of freezing causes damage). Most well-proportioned concrete mixtures reach this strength at 50°F (10°C) within 48 hours. If the concrete freezes before it reaches 500 psi (3.5 MPa), other ACI 306 objectives, such as strength gain and long-term durability, can’t be accomplished.
When no external water is available, the degree of saturation of newly placed concrete decreases as the concrete matures and the mixing water combines with cement during hydration. Additionally, mixing water is lost to evaporation even at cold temperatures. Under such conditions, the degree of saturation falls below the critical saturation. Critical saturation is the level at which a single cycle of freezing can cause damage.”
The importance of determining what surface and embedment temperatures may be detrimental to concrete is discussed in this Concrete International article. This information can be used to develop concreting strategies that provide effective, cost-efficient, and environmentally responsible protection of fresh concrete.
The new ACI 306R-16 Guide to Cold Weather Concreting highlights one of ACI’s Strategic Plan goals—to proactively gather and share information on transformational ideas, practices, and techniques.
A new ACI University webinar on January 31, 2017, will review updates to ACI 306R-16, “Guide to Cold Weather Concreting,” provide a contractor perspective on field applications for cold weather concreting, review research on the placement of concrete on cold surfaces, and address the practice of heating formwork and reinforcement prior to placement. Learn more.
More ACI resources on Cold Weather Concreting
ACI University Online Presentations: Cold Weather Concreting: What to Prepare to Keep Concrete Construction Continuing Guide to Cold Weather Concreting: Chapter 8 Protection Against Freezing for Structural Concrete
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