Mass Concrete Construction
Large civil structures typically require extensive construction effort extending over many years. The placement of large volumes of concrete can generate high internal temperatures due to the heat of hydration that may lead to thermally induced cracking and residual stresses. Such cracking leads to maintenance issues related to water penetration and flow characteristics.
ANATECH has developed effective modeling techniques and studies to understand optimal construction methods and those that may potentially lead to thermally induced cracking. Using coupled thermal-stress analysis based on nonlinear and time-dependent characterizations, modeling programs can evaluate the heat of hydration, concrete aging, shrinkage, creep, and cracking. These programs can also analyze a) the effect of embedded cooling coils to control internal temperatures during concrete placement, b) the effect of curing and final cooling in arch dams to open contraction joints, and c) the effect of residual stress fields that might cause fatigue cracking at welded connections.
ANATECH uses modeling programs that implement optimal engineering designs which mitigate the effects of thermal-induced cracking in the following applications:
- Conventional mass concrete with formwork
- Innovative float-in, pre-cast concrete segments with tremie in-fill
- Innovative lift-in, pre-cast concrete shells with tremie in-fill
- Coffer Box with wet tremie foundation layer
- Embedded cooling coils in mass concrete
- Roller compacted concrete
