Title:
The Benefits of the Maturity Method for Cold -Weather Concreting
Author(s):
Allen J. Hulshizer
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
23
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
68-72
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
3/1/2001
Abstract:
Construction cost and schedule share one common element, that of the efficient use of time. Cold weather concreting is faced with time constraints related to ambient conditions that impose special requirements to assure proper concrete curing. Guidelines and Specifications for cold weather concreting is given in American Concrete Institute documents ACI 306R and ACI 306.1, respectively. For cold-weather concreting, time-related curing costs involve heat and its continued maintenance, delay in accessing areas for continuing work (schedule delays), and construction overhead. Being able to assess the state of cure as it relates to the concrete’s in-place strength gain is a valuable tool in reducing cold-weather construction cost and improving the construction schedule. The maturity method offers a means of continuously and efficiently estimating the gain in concrete strength to optimize the point in time when concrete curing and allowable temperature drop can be terminated. The use of electronic integration and disposable meters is discussed as an effective means of implementing the maturity concept for cold-weather concreting. In a similar fashion, the maturity method can be used in the determination of concrete strength to safely and efficiently initiate form removal independent of weather considerations.