Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of Temperature Evolution and Early-Age Thermal Cracking Risk in Segmental High-Strength Concrete Box Girder Diaphragms

  • Structural Engineering
  • Published:
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope

Abstract

Three-dimensional finite element (FE) thermal and stress models were created to compute the temperature evolution, thermal stress and potential of cracking in a segmental concrete box girder segment during construction. User-defined subroutines were developed in the ANSYS program to activate the degree of hydration-dependent heat rate and material properties, and creep behavior in the thermal and stress calculations. The developed FE model was verified with experimental measurements of a concrete cube. Adiabatic temperature rise, together with compressive strength and splitting tensile strength for a high-strength concrete mix typically used in construction of box girders were tested and incorporated in the subroutines. The effect of casting time and placement season (summer and winter), initial concrete temperature change, and insulation on the risk of cracking in a cast-in-situ box girder segment at early ages was investigated using the proposed model. The results indicate that the temperature difference between the segment’s middle and the gate corner is very large leading to a high cracking risk. Use of an insulation material such as blankets along with casting concrete at the nighttime would significantly lessen the thermal tensile stress and thus could reduce cracking risk in the segment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ACI 207.1R-05 (2005) Guide to mass concrete. ACI 207.1R-05, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, USA

  • ACI 209.2R-08 (2008) Guide for modeling and calculating shrinkage and creep in hardened concrete. ACI 209.2R-08, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, USA

  • ACI 318-19 (2019) Building code requirements for structural concrete and commentary. ACI 318-19, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, USA

  • ACI 363R-10 (2010) Report on high-strength concrete. ACI 363R-10, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, USA

  • ANSYS (2013) ANSYS mechanical APDL material reference release 15.0. ANSYS, Canonsburg, PA, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Atrushi D (2003) Tensile and compressive creep of early age concrete: Testing and modeling. PhD Thesis, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayotte E, Massicotte B, Houde J, Gocevski V (1997) Modeling the thermal stresses at early ages in a concrete monolith. Materials Journal 94(6):577–587

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballim Y, Graham P (2003) A maturity approach to the rate of heat evolution in concrete. Magazine of Concrete Research 55(3):249–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bazant ZP, Baweja S (2000) Creep and shrinkage prediction model for analysis and design of concrete structures: Model B3. ACI Special Publications 194:1–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang S, Yang M, Sun Y, Liu K (2019) Calculation method of early-age crack width in reinforced concrete bridge through a nonlinear FEA Model. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 23(7):3088–3096, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-019-2129-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen B, Ding R, Zheng J, Zhang S (2009) Field test on temperature field and thermal stress for prestressed concrete box-girder bridge. Frontiers of Architecture and Civil Engineering in China 3(2):158–164, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-009-0002-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi YC, Cho YK, Shin K-J, Kwon S-J (2016) Development and application of microcapsule for cement hydration control. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 20(1):282–292, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-015-0281-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do TA (2013) Finite element modeling of behavior of mass concrete placed on soil. PhD Thesis, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Do TA (2014) Influence of footing dimensions on early-age temperature development and cracking in concrete footings. Journal of Bridge Engineering 20(3):06014007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do TA, Chen H, Leon G, Nguyen T (2019) A combined finite difference and finite element model for temperature and stress predictions of cast-in-place cap beam on precast columns. Construction and Building Materials 217:172–184, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.05.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do TA, Ha LM, Nguyen QT, Tran TD, Tham TQ (2020a) Evaluation of methods for analyzing early-age cracking risk in concrete walls of tunnel structures. Transport and Communications Science Journal 71(7):746–759, DOI: https://doi.org/10.47869/tcsj.71.7.2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do TA, Hoang TT, Bui TT, Hoang HV, Do TD, Nguyen PA (2020b) Evaluation of heat of hydration, temperature evolution and thermal cracking risk in high-strength concrete at early ages. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 21:100658, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2020.100658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do TA, Lawrence A, Tia M, Bergin M (2013) Importance of insulation at the bottom of mass concrete placed on soil with high groundwater. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2342(1):113–120, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3141/2342-14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do TA, Lawrence A, Tia M, Bergin M (2014a) Determination of required insulation for preventing early-age cracking in mass concrete footings. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2441(1):91–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do TA, Lawrence AM, Tia M, Bergin MJ (2014b) Effects of thermal conductivity of soil on temperature development and cracking in mass concrete footings. Journal of Testing and Evaluation 43(5): 1078–1090, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20140026

    Google Scholar 

  • Do TA, Nguyen TH, Vu TX, Hoang TT, Tran TD, Bui TT (2020c) Adiabatic temperature rise and thermal analysis of high-performance concrete bridge elements. In: Reddy J, Wang C, Luong V, Le A (eds) ICSCEA 2019. Springer, Singapore, 413–423

  • Gibbon G, Ballim Y, Grieve G (1997) A low-cost, computer-controlled adiabatic calorimeter for determining the heat of hydration of concrete. Journal of Testing and Evaluation 25(2):261–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutsch A, Rostasy FS (1995) Young concrete under high tensile stresses — Creep, relaxation and cracking. In: Springenschmid R (ed) Thermal cracking in concrete at early age. E & FN Spon, London, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen PF, Pedersen EJ (1977) Maturity computer for controlled curing and hardening of concrete

  • Hansen PF, Pedersen E (1984) Curing of concrete structures

  • Hottel HC (1976) A simple model for estimating the transmittance of direct solar radiation through clear atmospheres. Solar Energy 18(2): 129–134, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(76)90045-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SG (2010) Effect of heat generation from cement hydration on mass concrete placement. MSc Thesis, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Klemczak B (2014) Modeling thermal-shrinkage stresses in early age massive concrete structures — Comparative study of basic models. Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering 14:721–733, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acme.2014.01.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klemczak B, Batog M, Pilch M (2016) Assessment of concrete strength development models with regard to concretes with low clinker cements. Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering 16:235–247, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acme.2015.10.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klemczak B, Flaga K, Knoppik-Wróbel A (2017) Analytical model for evaluation of thermal-shrinkage strains and stresses in RC wall-on-slab structures. Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering 17:75–95, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acme.2016.08.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin Y, Chen H-L (2015) Thermal analysis and adiabatic calorimetry for early-age concrete members. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 122(2):937–945, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4843-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin Y, Chen H-L (2016) Thermal analysis and adiabatic calorimetry for early-age concrete members. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 124(1):227–239, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-5131-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu W, Cao W, Yan H, Ye T, Jia W (2016) Experimental and numerical studies of controlling thermal cracks in mass concrete foundation by circulating water. Applied Sciences 6(4):110, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app6040110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Liu Y, Jiang L, Zhang N (2019) Long-term field test of temperature gradients on the composite girder of a long-span cable-stayed bridge. Advances in Structural Engineering 22(13):2785–2798, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1369433219851300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Schindler AK (2020) Finite-element modeling of early-age concrete stress development. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 32(1): 04019338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Schindler AK, Davidson JS (2018) Finite-element modeling and analysis of early-age cracking risk of cast-in-place concrete culverts. Transportation Research Record 2672(27):24–36, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118774157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills R (1966) Factors influencing cessation of hydration in water cured cement pastes. Highway Research Board Special Report (90)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen CT, Do TA, Hoang TT, Tran TD (2021) Evaluation of early-age cracking risk in mass concrete footings under different placement conditions. Revista Ingeniería de Construcción 36(1):5–13, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732021000100005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Østergaard L, Lange DA, Altoubat SA, Stang H (2001) Tensile basic creep of early-age concrete under constant load. Cement and Concrete Research 31(12):1895–1899, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(01)00691-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan Y, Prado A, Porras R, Hafez OM, Bolander JE (2017) Lattice modeling of early-age behavior of structural concrete. Materials 10(3):231, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10030231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poole JL (2007) Modeling temperature sensitivity and heat evolution of concrete. PhD Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Riding KA, Poole JL, Folliard KJ, Juenger MC, Schindler AK (2012) Modeling hydration of cementitious systems. ACI Materials Journal 109(2):225–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Schindler AK, McCullough BF (2002) Importance of concrete temperature control during concrete pavement construction in hot weather conditions. Transportation Research Record 1813(1):3–10, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3141/1813-01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strieder E, Hilber R, Stierschneider E, Bergmeister K (2018) FE-study on the effect of gradient concrete on early constraint and crack risk. Applied Sciences 8(2):246, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app8020246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanabe T, Kawasumi M, Yamashita Y (1985) Thermal stress analysis of massive concrete. In: Finite element analysis of reinforced concrete structures. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Tia M, Ferraro CC, Lawrence A, Smith S, Ochiai F (2010) Development of design parameters for mass concrete using finite element analysis: Final report. Florida Department of Transportation, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Tia M, Lawrence A, Do TA, Verdugo D, Han S, Almarshoud M, Ferrante B, Markandeya A (2016) Maximum heat of mass concrete-phase 2

  • Tia M, Lawrence A, Ferraro C, Do TA, Chen Y (2013) Pilot project for maximum heat of mass concrete. Florida Department of Transportation, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Yikici TA, Chen H-L (2015) Numerical prediction model for temperature development in mass concrete structures. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2508(1):102–110, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3141/2508-13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu X, Chen J, Xu Q, Zhou Z (2018) Research on the influence factors of thermal cracking in mass concrete by model experiments. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 22(8):2906–2915, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-017-2711-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED Grant No. 107.02-2016.25).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Transport Science and Technology, University of Transport and Communications, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Tu Anh Do

  2. Dept. of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Mang Tia

  3. Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Transport and Communications, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Thuan Huu Nguyen

  4. Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Transport and Communications, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Tuyet Thi Hoang

  5. Hoa Binh Department of Transportation, Hoa Binh, 36000, Vietnam

    Tam Duc Tran

Authors
  1. Tu Anh Do
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mang Tia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thuan Huu Nguyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tuyet Thi Hoang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tam Duc Tran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tu Anh Do.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Do, T.A., Tia, M., Nguyen, T.H. et al. Assessment of Temperature Evolution and Early-Age Thermal Cracking Risk in Segmental High-Strength Concrete Box Girder Diaphragms. KSCE J Civ Eng 26, 166–182 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-021-2148-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-021-2148-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation