Why Monitor Concrete Temperature?

And How?

Peter Taylor
What Are We Talking About?

Maturity
Isothermal Conduction Calorimetry
Field Semi-Adiabatic Calorimetry
Heat of Hydration
Setting Time
Definitions

Isothermal (constant temperature)

Adiabatic (no energy transfer)
Semi-adiabatic (some, known, energy
transfer)
Maturity

Using a time/temperature function to

estimate strength (or other property)

No thermal control
Why?

Replaces Temperature-Matched
Curing of Cylinders in Thermal
Control Plans
Can Reduce Construction Time
 How?

Use laboratory
testing to develop
a relationship
Monitor concrete
using temperature
probes

Note: Maturity testing does not indicate quality

of concrete
ASTM C1074 Maturity

Time-Temperature Factor (Fhr)

t
M = (T - To )t
t =0

Equivalent Age (days)

1 1
t -Q -
M = e Ta Ts
t
t =0
 Footing Example
60
Center
50 Top
T em p eratu re, C
Bottom
40
30
20
10
7 Day Equivalent Age
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Time, Days
But

Maturity relation required for each

mix
Provides an estimate of a property
based on indirect measurements
Calorimetry

Measuring heat in paste mixtures to

assess hydration kinetics
i.e. How do system chemistry,
admixtures and SCMS influence
hydration
Isothermal
How?
How?

Test Reference
Sample Sample

Peltier Sensors

Heat sink
Why?

25
Sample "1PA"
Sample "2PA"
Sample "3PA"
20 Sample "4PA"
Sample "5PA"
Sample "6PA"

15
J/gh

10

0
0:00:00 6:00:00 12:00:00 18:00:00 24:00:00
Tim e of Hydration (hrs)
Why?

Hydration Profile
15.00
Sample "5P"
Sample "5C"
Sample "5F"
12.00 Sample "5S"

9.00
J/gh

6.00

3.00

0.00
0:00:00 6:00:00 12:00:00 18:00:00 24:00:00
Tim e of Hydration (hrs)
Why?
Effect of Water Reducer Dosage on Hydration

16.00

14.00

12.00

10.00
J/gh

8.00

6.00

4.00
No Adm WRA x1
2.00
WRA x2

0.00
0:00:00 6:00:00 12:00:00 18:00:00 24:00:00
Tim e of Hydration (hrs)
Why?
2.5

2.0

1.5
Heat (mV)

1.0

0.5

0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Tim e of Hydration (hours)

But

Small paste samples

Fixed temperature
May not flag all aluminate reaction
problems
Takes up to 24 hours
Other techniques?
Field Semi-Adiabatic
Calorimetry
Measuring heat in mortar /concrete
to assess hydration kinetics
i.e. Is the system hydrating?
Semi(ish) adiabatic
How?
Why?
 Why?

Gary Knight
But

Coarse
Takes time
Heat of Hydration

Measuring heat generated by a

cementitious system (paste)
Used for heat calculations in mass
concrete
Adiabatic / Semi adiabatic
Why?
 How?

ASTM C
186
Calorimeter
Concrete
cube
 How?
350

300

250

200
J/g

150

100

50

0
0:00 24:00 48:00 72:00 96:00 120:00 144:00 168:00

Tim e of Hydration, hrs

CTLGroup
But

Not standardized
yet
Time of Set

Using temperature monitoring to

measure time of set
Semi-adiabatic
 Why?
5000 115

4000 ASTM C 403 110

Thermocouple
Penetrometer, psi

Temperature, F
3000 105

2000 100
Initial
set
1000 95

0 90
0 2 4 6 8
Hours

CTLGroup
 Initial Set
20
Thermocouple, hours

15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20
ASTM C 403, hours
CTLGroup
 Summary

Useful data can be collected

For characterizing materials
Investigating interactions
Tracking uniformity
Timing finishing activities
Tracking hydration
Use the right equipment for the
right application