The thermal stress state arising in the contact area of mass concreteduring construction

Introduction. The contact area of concrete gravity dams is of vital importance. Substantial temperature gradients and tensile stresses can arise in the process of concrete casting and thermal regime creation; they can cause thermal cracking. The practice of monitoring the construction and operation of concrete gravity dams has identified frequent vertical cracking along and across the dam axis, which can have an adverse impact on structural behaviour. Despite the large number of research works, some of which are mentioned in the work, the extent of influence of the modulus of elasticity in the bed on the thermally stressed state of mass concrete has yet to be fully resolved. The purpose of the research is to enhance the insight into the stress-strain state arising in the contact area of mass concrete and the bed, depending on its rigidity. Materials and methods. The research was conducted using the numerical finite element method and the MIDAS software package. Results. The influence of bed rigidity on the thermally stressed state arising in the contact area of mass concrete in the process of construction has been analyzed. Several options featuring different ratios between the modulus elasticity of the bed and mass concrete were considered in respect of a mass concrete structure made of vibrated and rolled concretes. Emerging stresses are compared. Mathematical expressions are obtained to project maximum tensile stresses occurring in the contact area. Conclusions. A more rigid bed rises maximum tensile temperature stresses, which increase the risk of thermal cracking. Research results can be used to predict maximum tensile stresses near the contact section of the mass concrete, whose dimensions are close to those of the structure under research.

Assessment of Thermally Stressed State of Concrete Massif

The paper describes a technique for assessing the thermally stressed state of a concrete massif of a foundation slab made of a self-compacting concrete mixture. The proposed method consists in a preliminary calculation of temperature fields in hardening concrete. The objects of research have been self-compacting concrete mix and structural concrete in the structure mass. The choice of materials for the preparation of a concrete mixture is given and substantiated. The composition of self-compacting concrete has been used to assess the thermally stressed state. A binder with a reduced exotherm has been used in order to reduce the self-heating of concrete. Studies have been carried out to assess the specific heat release of the recommended cement depending on the initial water-cement ratio. The effect of a chemical additive on the rate and magnitude of the specific heat release of cement has been studied. The paper presents the main theoretical provisions and an algorithm for calculating the thermal stress state of a concrete massif. The finite difference method has been used to calculate the expected temperatures and their distribution in the structure mass, and the temperature stresses in the sections of the concrete mass have been calculated to assess the thermally stressed state. The performed calculations of the temperature fields have made it possible to estimate the maximum possible temperatures and temperature differences over the sections of the concrete massif depending on the initial temperature of the concrete mixture and the average daily temperature of the outside air. Analysis of the temperature distribution has revealed the most dangerous sections of the concrete mass. An assessment of the thermal stress state of the concrete mass has been made on the basis of the results pertaining to calculation of temperature fields. The calculation of temperature stresses in the most dangerous sections of the concrete massif has been performed. It is shown that the calculated value of the temperature stress can serve as a characteristic of the thermally stressed state of the concrete mass. The formation of temperature cracks in a concrete mass is possible when the calculated value of the temperature stress exceeds the actual tensile strength of concrete. Comparison of the calculated and actual values of temperatures in the sections of the foundation slab has made it possible to conclude that the calculations of the temperature fields and, as a consequence, possible temperature deformations are correct.