Abstract

HOT AND COLD

Effects of severe temperature on setting/hardening of concrete. Precautions and
suggestions to gain required strength.

WEATHER CONCRETING
Faisal Gulzar
PRC-I Assignments#1
L14-5780
BS(CV)-B
February 2, 2017
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Hot and cold weather Concreting

Introduction
Concrete is an important construction material which find its applications in various types on
structures. Composition of concrete includes cement as well as coarse and fine aggregates with suitable
ratio of water. Concrete has two phase to reach its final stage; fresh concrete and hardened concrete.
After hardening, concrete is expected to fulfill the required strength to the structure. Setting or hardening
of concrete depends upon weather conditions. Final strength of concrete greatly affected by degree of
temperature. Very high or very low temperature may influence strength of concrete as a result of
shrinkage, cracking and creeping etc. So, temperature consideration for concrete construction in hot and
cold weather is necessarily important to obtain required strength from concrete mass. Effects, precautions
and suggestions weather changes are discussed below.

1. Cold Weather Concreting

1.1. What is cold weather
Cold weather is defined as:
A period when the average daily temperature falls below 40F (4C) for more than three
successive days. (NRMCA, 1998)
These conditions warrant special precautions when placing finishing curing and protecting
concrete against the effects of cold weather conditions can change rapidly in winter months, good
concrete practices and proper planning are critical.

1.2. Why consider cold weather

Successful cold-weather concreting requires an understanding of various factors that affect
concrete properties.

1.2.1. Freeing in First two days

In its plastic state, concrete will freeze if its temperature falls below about 25F [-4C]. If
plastic concrete freezes, its potential strength can be reduced by more than 50% and its durability
will be adversely affected. Concrete should be protected from freezing until it attains a minimum
compressive strength of 500 psi [3.5 MPa], which is about two days after placement for most
concrete maintained at 50F [20C].

1.2.2. Rate of cement hydration

Low concrete temperature has a major effect on the rate of concrete hydration, which
results in slower setting and rate of strength gain. A good rule of thumb is that a drop in concrete
temperature by 20F [10C] will approximately double the setting time. The slower rate of setting
and strength gain should be accounted for when scheduling construction operations, such as form
removal.

1.2.3. Freezing and thawing

Concrete in contact with water and exposed to cycles of freezing and thawing, even if only
during construction should be air entrained. Newly placed concrete is saturated with water and
should be protected from cycles of freezing and thawing until it has attained the strength of at
least 3500 psi [24.0 MPa].
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1.2.4. Temperature difference

Cement hydration is a chemical reaction that generates heat. Newly placed concrete should
be adequately insulated to retain this heat and thereby maintain favorable curing temperature.
Large temperature difference between the surface and interior of the concrete mass be prevented
as cracking may result when this difference exceed about 35F [20C]. Insulation and protective
measures should be gradually removed to avoid thermal shock.

1.3. Cold weather concreting: Guidelines

Use air-entrained concrete when exposure to moisture and freezing and thawing conditions
are expected.
Use surfaces in contact with concrete free of ice and snow and at a temperature above
freezing prior to placement.
Place and maintain concrete at the recommended temperature.
Place concrete at the lowest practical slump.
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Protect plastic concrete from freezing or drying.

Protect concrete from early age freezing and thawing cycle until it has attained adequate
strength.
Limit rapid temperature changes when protective measures are removed.

2. Hot weather concreting

2.1. What is Hot Weather
Hot weather may be defined as:
Any combinations of following conditions that tends to impair the quality of freshly mixed or
hardened concrete by accelerating the rate of moisture loss and rate of cement hydration:
o High ambient temperature
o High concrete temperature
o Low relative humidity
o High wind speed
o Solar radiation

Hot weather problems are most frequently encountered in summer, but the associated climatic
factors of high winds and dry air can occur at any time, especially in arid and tropical climates. Hot
weather conditions can produce a rapid rate of evaporation of moisture from surface of concrete, and
accelerate setting time.

2.2. Why consider Hot Weather

It is important that hot weather be taken into account when planning concrete project because of
potential effects on fresh and recently placed concrete. High temperature alone cause increased water
demand, which in turn will raise the water cement ratio and yield lower potential strength. Higher
temperature tends to accelerate slump loss of entrained air. Temperature also has major effect on the
setting time of concrete: concrete place under higher temperature will set quickly and therefore
requires more rapid finish. Concrete that is cured at high temperature early will not be will not be
strong at 28 days as the same concrete cured at more moderate 70F temperatures.
High temperatures, high wind velocity, and low relative humidity can affect fresh concrete in tow
important ways;

The high rate of evaporation may induce early plastic shrinkage or drying shrinkage
cracking, and
The evaporation rate can remove surface water necessary for hydration unless proper
curing methods are employed.
Thermal cracking may result from rapid drops in the temperature of the concrete, such as when
concrete slabs or walls are placed on a hot day followed by a cool night. High temperature also
accelerates cement hydration and contributes to the potential for cracking in massive concrete
structures. (Orcas, n.d.)

2.3. How to concrete in Hot Weather

Efficient hot weather concreting includes:
o To recognize the factors that affect concrete
o Planning to minimize their effect
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Concrete mixture designs may include: set retarders and water reducers, the lowest practical
cement factor. Modify mixtures as appropriate retarders, moderate heat of hydration cement,
Pozzolanic1 admixtures or other proven local solutions. Adequate manpower to quickly place,
finish and cure the concrete.
Limit the addition of water at the job site add water only on arrival at the job site to adjust the
slump. Later additions should be avoided; in no instance should they exceed 2 or 2 gallons per
cubic yard. Never add water to concrete that is more than 1 hours old.
Slabs on grade should not be placed on polyethylene sheeting if a vapor barrier is required, then
a bed of damp sand should be placed over it.
Finish as soon as the sheen has left the surface, start curing as soon as finishing is completed.
Continue curing for at least 3 days: cover to prevent evaporation or use a liquid membrane curing
compound, or cure slabs with water. The addition of white pigment to membrane curing
compounds will help by reflecting heat away from the concrete surface.
Moisten the subgrade, forms and reinforcement prior to placement. However, avoid standing
water.
Protect field test cylinders by shading and preventing evaporation. Field curing boxes with ice or
refrigeration may be used to ensure required 60 80F for cylinders.

1 Pozzolans are a broad class of siliceous or siliceous and aluminous materials which, in
themselves, possess little or no cementations value but which will, in finely divided form and in
the presence of water, react chemically with calcium hydroxide at ordinary temperature
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2.4. Precautions
Moisten subgrade, steel reinforcement, and form work prior to concrete placement.
Erect temporary wind breaks to limit wind velocities and sunshades to reduce concrete surface
temperatures.
Cool aggregates and mixing water added to the concrete mixture to reduce its initial temperature.
The effect of hot cement on concrete temperature is only minimal.
Use a concrete consistency that allows rapid placement and consolidation.
Protect the concrete surface during placement with plastic sheeting or evaporation retarders to
maintain the initial moisture in the concrete mixture.
Provide sufficient labor to minimize the time required to place and finish the concrete, as hot
weather conditions substantially shorted the times to initial and final set.
Consider fogging the area above the concrete placement to raise the relative humidity and satisfy
moisture demand of the ambient air.
Provide appropriate curing methods as soon as possible after the concrete finishing processes
have been completed.
In extreme conditions consider adjusting the time of concrete placement to take advantage of
cooler temperatures, such as early morning or night time placement. (Annonymous, 2017)
With proper planning and execution concrete can be successfully placed and finished to produce
high quality durable concrete at temperatures of 35C (95F) or more.
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Bibliography
Annonymous. (2017). Hot and Cold weather concreting. Retrieved from NRMCA:
https://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/cips/27p.pdf
auther, I. (n.d.). Civil construction resources. Retrieved from Civil construction resources: www.idc-
online.com/technical_references/pdfs/civil.../Hot_Weather_Concreting.pdf
NRMCA. (1998). Concrete in Practice. 1-2.
Orcas. (n.d.). Hot and Cold Weather concreting. Retrieved from CCANZ: www.ccanz.org.nz/page/Hot-
and-Cold-Weather-Concreting.aspx