Comparison of thermal cracking potential evaluation criteria for mass concrete structures

Abstract

This paper systematically investigated experimental thermal cracking potential evaluation results of mass concrete structures undergoing external restraint using different criteria (i.e., second-zero-stress temperature, cracking temperature, ratio of tensile stress to tensile strength). Results showed that the second-zero-stress temperature is not accurate for the thermal cracking potential evaluation. A modified criterion using the ratio of tensile stress to tensile strength combining the facture energy (i.e., the final value of ratio of tensile stress to tensile strength) is more intuitive on the thermal cracking potential evaluation. The criterion using the cracking temperature is appropriate for the thermal cracking potential evaluation on material level. A proposed criterion combining the cracking temperature and the cracking age obtained from a temperature stress testing machine is more effective for the thermal cracking potential evaluation on material and member level.