2D modeling temperature development of mass concrete structures at early age - 2017

Abstract

In this paper, a 2D finite volume analysis methodology was used to predict temperature development within three different bridge pier caps. MATLAB® was employed to generate a program that solves the governing heat transfer equation where development of thermo-physical concrete properties was defined as a function of degree of hydration. The rate of heat generation was obtained experimentally via adiabatic calorimetry and the activation energy was determined following the ASTM C 1074 procedure to implement equivalent age concept. 2D finite volume analysis results were presented in comparison with the recorded concrete temperatures from the field. Accordingly, temperature time histories at the center and the side surface of the bridge pier caps were predicted reasonably well using the concrete mixture information and the measured concrete hydration properties.