Sequence of Presentation

Hot & Cold

Weather
Concreting

1. Hot Weather Concreting

Definition of hot weather

Effects of hot weather on
Concrete properties
Precautions against hot
weather

2. Cold Weather Concreting

Definition of cold weather

Effects of cold weather on
Concrete properties
Precautions against cold
weather

Hot-Weather
Concreting

Detrimental Hot
Weather Conditions
High ambient temperature

1.Hot-Weather Concreting

High concrete temperature

Low relative humidity

High wind speed
Solar radiation
Hot-Weather
Concreting

Hot-Weather
Concreting

Hot Weather Effects

on Concrete

Evaporation of
Surface Moisture
from Concrete
(ACI 305)

Increased water demand

Accelerated slump loss
Faster set
Increased tendency for
plastic cracking
Increased potential for
thermal cracking

If Evaporation rate is greater than

1.0 kg/m2/h than precautions against
premature drying & plastic shrinkage
must be taken

Hot-Weather
Concreting

Hot-Weather
Concreting

Effect of Concrete
Temperatures on Strength

Effect of Concrete Temperature

on Water Requirements

Hot-Weather
Concreting

(Klieger 1958)

Hot-Weather
Concreting

Effect of Ice on Temperature of Concrete

Plastic Shrinkage Cracking

Substituting ice for part of the mixing water

will substantially lower concrete temperature.

Cracks occur when water evaporates

from the surface faster than it can be
replaced by the bleeding process.

Occurrence increased by
High air and concrete
temperature
Low humidity
Hot-Weather
Concreting

Hot-Weather
Concreting

High wind speed

Precautions to Minimize
Plastic Shrinkage Cracking

Hot-Weather
Concreting

Cool aggregates and mixing

water
Dampen subgrade
Erect temporary windbreaks and
sunshades
Cover concrete
Fog slab immediately after
placing
Add plastic fibers
Reduce the time of transport,
placing and finishing

Fogging

Hot-Weather
Concreting

2.Cold Weather
(ACI 306 Definition)

Hot-Weather
Concreting

Liquid nitrogen added directly into a

truck mixer at the ready mix plant is
an effective method of reducing
concrete temperature for mass
concrete placements or during hotweather concreting.

Average daily
temperature
<5C (40F) for 3
successive days
Stays <10C (50F) for
more than of any
24h period

Cold-Weather
Concreting

Effect of Freezing Fresh

Concrete

Setting Times at
Different Temperatures

Up to 50% reduction of ultimate

strength can occur if frozen
within a few hours
before reaching a str. of 500psi

Frozen only once at an early age

Cold-Weather
Concreting

With curing nearly all strength can

be restored
Less resistance to weathering
More permeable

Cold-Weather
Concreting

Effect of Temperature on
Strength Development

Rule of Thumb

Cold-Weather
Concreting

For every 10C (18F) reduction in

concrete temperature, the times of
setting of the concrete double, thus
increasing the amount of time that the
concrete is vulnerable to damage due
to freezing.

Cold-Weather
Concreting

Cold-Weather Concreting

Other Field precautions

Methods to accelerate strength

gain:

Cold-Weather
Concreting

Insulating blanket (trap heat &

moisture)
Insulating Concrete forms
Heating ingredients (water &
aggregate)

Cold-Weather
Concreting

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Insulating Blankets

Cold-Weather
Concreting

Insulating Concrete Forms

Cold-Weather
Concreting

11

Insulated Column
Forms
Rigid
High-density
plywood

END

polystyrene
Rough
plywood

Cold-Weather
Concreting

Cold-Weather
Concreting

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Hot-Weather
Concreting

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