Title:
Three-Stage Testing Protocol to Recreate Thermomechanical Properties of Mass Concrete
Author(s):
A. S. Carey, G. B. Sisung, I. L. Howard, B. Songer, D. A. Scott, and J. Shannon
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
121
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
91-104
Keywords:
high-strength concrete (HSC); insulated curing block; mass placements; programmable environmental chamber
DOI:
10.14359/51740705
Date:
5/1/2024
Abstract:
Determining the in-place properties of mass concrete placements
is elusive, and currently there are minimal to no test methods
available that are both predictive and a direct measurement of
mechanical properties. This paper presents a three-stage testing
framework that uses common laboratory equipment and laboratory scale specimens to quantify thermal and mechanical properties of
mass high-strength concrete placements. To evaluate this framework,
four mass placements of varying sizes and insulations were
cast, and temperature histories were measured at several locations
within each placement, where maximum temperatures of 107 to
119°C (225 to 246°F) were recorded. The laboratory curing protocols
were then developed using this mass placement temperature
data and the three-stage testing framework to cure laboratory
specimens to represent each mass placement. Laboratory curing
protocols developed for center and intermediate regions of the
mass placements reasonably replicated thermal histories of the
mass placements, while the first stage of the three-stage framework
reasonably replicated temperatures near the edge of the mass
placements. Additionally, there were statistically significant relationships detected between calibration variables used to develop
laboratory curing protocols and measured compressive strength.
Overall, the proposed three-stage testing framework is a measurable
step toward creating a predictive laboratory curing protocol
by accounting for the mixture characteristics of thermomechanical
properties of high-strength concretes.