Abstract:
Piped water is used to remove hydration heat from concrete blocks during construction. In this paper we develop an approximate model for this process. The problem reduces to solving a one-dimensional heat equation in the concrete, coupled with a first order differential equation for the water temperature. Numerical results are presented and the effect of varying model parameters shown. An analytical solution is also provided for a steady-state constant heat generation model. This helps highlight the dependence on certain parameters and can therefore provide an aid in the design of cooling systems.
Description:
Large concrete structures are usually made sequentially in a series of blocks.
After each block is poured it must be left to cool and shrink for a period depending on its size,
but typically for around 1 week, before the next block is poured. The reason for the delay is that the
mixture of cement and water, which constitute the binding agent of the concrete, results in a series of
hydration reactions that generate heat.
