Special concreting methods

By
Prof. B. L. Rajput
Assistant Professor
NICMAR, Pune

Cold weather concreting

Effects of cold weather on concrete
Cold weather concreting in following conditions
Low temperature but above 00c
Low temperature at the time of concreting but below 00c
after concreting
Temperature below 00c at the time of concreting and
during hardening period
Hardened concrete subjected to alternate freezing and
thawing

Precautions to be taken and methods adopted for

concreting in sub-zero temperature

Effects of cold weather on concrete

Delay in setting and hardening
Freezing of concrete at early age
Freezing and thawing

Cold weather concreting in

following conditions
Low temperature but above 00c
Low temperature at the time of concreting but
below 00c after concreting
Temperature below 00c at the time of concreting
and during hardening period
Hardened concrete subjected to alternate
freezing and thawing

Recommended pre-hardening period

as per IS-7861(Part 2)- 1979
Specified minimum
strength at 28 days for
ordinary portland
cement MPa

Requisite Pre-hardening period

At stated concrete temperature in
hours
20oc

10oc

5oc

M 20

35

53

70

M 25

26

39

52

M 30

22

33

44

M 40

16

24

32

Precautions to be taken and methods

adopted for cold weather concreting
Utilization of heat developed by hydration
of cement and practical methods of
insulation
Selection of suitable type of cement
Economical heating of materials of concrete
Admixtures of anti freezing materials
Electrical heating of concrete mass
Use of air entraining agents

General precautions
Wind breakers shall be erected to shield mixing and
batching plant, tarpaulin, plastic sheets and other
covering materials may be made available at the
site and the steam generating plant or other
necessary equipments may be installed and
checked for correct functioning
Concrete will be delivered to the point of
placement at not less than 50c. It is necessary to
place concrete quickly and cover the top of
concrete.
Before placing concrete remove all the ice, snow
and frost.

During periods of freezing or near freezing conditions, water curing is

not necessary as the loss of moisture from the concrete by evaporation
will be greatly reduced in cold air conditions.
Forms shall not be released until concrete has achieved a strength of at
least twice the stress to which the concrete may be subjected at the
time of removal of formwork.
During cold weather, inspection personnel should keep a record of the
date, time, outside air temperature
Use formwork which made up of other than steel material.
Heated enclosures are commonly used for protecting concrete when
air temperature are near or below freezing. Enclosures may be heated
by steam, steam pipes and other types of heaters. Enclosures may be
made up of wood, canvas, fiber insulation board, plywood etc.
In case of cold weather, it is necessary to cast a number of specimens
in a standard way to indicate the potential strength properties of the
mix. In addition to control test cubes, it is necessary to cast a number
specimens, curing conditions of which are maintained in the same way
as that of actual structure.

Hot weather concreting

Definition
Effects of hot weather on concrete
Precautions to be taken

Effects of Hot weather on concrete

Rapid rate of hydration of cement, quick setting
and early stiffening.
Rapid evaporation of water
Greater plastic shrinkage
Less time for finishing
Absorption of water from the concrete by the sub
grade and formwork
Difficulty in continuous and uninterrupted curing
Difficulty in incorporation of air entrainment

Precautions in Hot weather

concreting

Temperature reduction of concrete

Careful selection of materials
Precautions prior to concreting
Transporting placing and finishing
Plastic cracking
Curing and protection of concrete at an
early age.

Temperature reduction of
concrete
Lowering of temperature of aggregates and water
are most effective methods.
Aggregates should be stockpile in shade. Cooling
of aggregates can be done by sprinkling of water.
Refrigeration is another method. Aggregates can
be kept in water tank or cool air can be circulated
through storage bins or insulated tunnels.
Addition of ice flakes will reduce the temperature
of concrete.

Careful selection of material

Dont use fine cement.
Dont use cement with
high C3S and C3A content.
Use minimum possible
amount of cement.
Shape, impurities, grading
and specific gravity of
aggregates influence
cement content.
Use maximum size for
aggregates

Slump retention
admixtures (Retarders) are
most suitable for hot
weather concreting.
Retarder plasticizers

Precautions prior to concreting

Mixers, chutes, belts, hoppers. Chutes, pump,
pump lines, walkways and other equipments
which are handling concrete should be shaded.
Formwork, reinforcement steel and sub grade
should be fogged with cool water just prior to
concrete being placed.
For slabs on grade it is recommended to moisten
the sub grade a day prior to concreting.
It is recommended to do the concreting either in
early morning or in the evening or at night.

Transporting placing and finishing

Plan the activities so that job can be finished as
early as possible.
Use adequate number of labours and equipments.
Use standby equipments also.
All the precautions are necessary to maintain the
good bond between first layer and second layer.
Floating and finishing should be done promptly
after the water sheen disappears or when concrete
is hard enough to support weight of human being.
Concrete on finishing must be covered effectively
to prevent loss of moisture from the concrete.

Plastic cracking
Cracking occurs when rate of evaporation exceeds 0.5
kg/m2/hr
Sub grade and formwork is required to be moistened
Aggregates if dry and absorptive must be moistened
Keep the temperature of concrete as low as possible by
cooling aggregates and mixing water or by using ice.
Install wind breakers
Erect temporary shed to protect concrete surface.
Protect concrete by polyethylene sheets when there is
delay between placing and finishing.

Curing and protection of concrete

at an early age.
Formwork should be removed as early as
possible without damage o concrete.
Apply water from top to bottom
Curing water should not be excessively
cooler than concrete
Do continuous moist curing
Use of curing compound is better.