Miss Honey 

Assignment #08 
22.9.2017
Mass concrete
Definition – According to ACI, any volume of concrete with dimensions large enough to require that 
measures be taken to cope with Generation of Heat from Hydration of the Cement and Subsequent Volume 
Change, to minimize cracking.
 
Application ‐Mass concrete structures include Massive Mat Foundations, Dams, and Bridge Piers.

Difference from Other concrete is in its Thermal Behavior.  

• Because the cement‐water reaction is exothermic by nature, the temperature rise within a large concrete 
mass, where the heat is not quickly dissipated can be quite high.
 The Temperature Rise depends on:
1. Concrete placing temperature.
2. Cement composition, fineness, and content.
3. Aggregate content and Coefficient of Thermal Expansion.
4. Section thickness.
5. Formwork type and time of removal.
6. Ambient conditions.
7. Supplementary cementing materials.

Materials and Mix Design  
• Mass concrete is composed of: Cement + Aggregates + Water + Pozzolans + admixtures. 
• The combination of these materials should be adjusted to meet the requirements of use of mass concrete: economy; 
workability; dimensional stability and freedom from cracking; low temperature rise; adequate strength; durability. 
 
Construction Practices ‐ To control the temperature rise in massive concrete structures:  
1. Postcooling  
 The process of circulating a cool liquid (usually water) through thin‐walled pipes embedded in the concrete.) 
2. Precooling  
Concrete components can be precooled in several ways: 
 • The batch water can be chilled or ice can be substituted for part of the batch water. 
 • Aggregate stockpiles can be shaded. Fine aggregates can be processed in a classifier using chilled water. 
3. Surface Insulation  
 Insulating formwork after placement is another technique to reduce the temperature gradient: By limiting the heat 
loss on the surface. 
4. Expansion Reinforcement
 Designed in addition to loads placed onto the structure.
 Distributes thermal stresses to minimize crack widths.
 
The key to reducing thermal cracking:  
• Reduce the peak temperature.  
• Control the temperature differential between the hot core and the cool surface.  
•Reducing the peak temperature effects the time it takes for an element to reach a stable temperature and effects the 
temperature differentials.

Conclusion
Mass Concrete is just ordinary normal concrete but at a huge scale of practice, where thermal stresses caused by
the hydration of cement, becomes very considerable.
This behavior requires some special actions in:
1. The mix design (decreasing the cement) 2. The construction (cooling and insulation)