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RESULTS FOR MASS CONCRETE

Definition: any volume of concrete in which a combination of dimensions of the member being cast, the boundary conditions can lead to undesirable thermal stresses, cracking, deleterious chemical reactions, or reduction in the long-term strength as a result of elevated concrete temperature due to heat from hydration.- ACI Concrete Terminology


Mass concrete is any volume of concrete with dimensions large enough to require that measures be taken to cope with the generation of heat from hydration of the cement and attendant volume change to minimize cracking. The one characteristic that distinguishes mass concrete from other concrete work is thermal behavior. The cement-water reaction causes the temperature to rise within a large concrete mass, and where the heat is not quickly dissipated, can be quite high. Significant tensile stresses and strains may result from the restrained volume change associated with a decline in temperature as heat of hydration is dissipated.