HOT AND COLD WEATHER CONCRETE

By
Engr. Mustansar Hussain Jamali
Lecturer Civil Engineering Department
Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology
Khuzdar
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 HOT WEATHER CONCRETE
High ambient temperature, high concrete temperature, low relative humidity,
and high wind speed can all contribute to the impairment of the quality of
freshly mixed or hardened concrete by accelerating the rate of moisture loss
and cement hydration, which can result in detrimental outcomes. This
phenomenon is known as hot weather concreting, and it requires special
precautions to ensure proper handling, placing, and transporting of concrete.
Despite the challenges presented by humidity and wind, careful planning and
appropriate measures can lead to high-quality concrete and faster curing
times, resulting in increased margins.
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 HOT WEATHER CONCRETE
While hot weather is more common in the summer, a combination of high
temperatures, winds, and low humidity can cause problems with
concrete placement and finish at any time. ACI 305 defines hot weather
concreting as any combination of the following factors that tend to
compromise the quality of freshly mixed or hardened concrete by
increasing the rate of moisture loss and cement hydration or by having
other negative effects. These conditions are as follows:-

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 HOT WEATHER CONCRETE
• High outdoor temperature
• High temperature of the concrete
• Low relative humidity
• Wind velocity
• Radiation from the sun

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 PRECAUTIONS FOR HOT WEATHER CONCRETING
• To increase the quality of concrete, the temperature of the concrete
should be kept as low as feasible. To achieve this situation, efforts
should be taken to keep the temperature of the concrete
ingredients as low as feasible. The following precautions for hot
weather concreting could be taken:-
• Aggregates
Aggregates should be stored in the shade during hot weather
concreting. A sprinkling of water over the stockpile, followed by
evaporation, will result in a reduction in aggregate temperature. A
large spray of cool air over the aggregate shortly before it is batched
is preferable if possible.

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 PRECAUTIONS FOR HOT WEATHER CONCRETING
• Water
• The mixing water temperature has the largest impact on the
temperature of the concrete to counter hot weather concreting
conditions. In practice, controlling the temperature of the water is easier
than controlling the temperature of the other ingredients. Even if the
weight of the water used is smaller than the other ingredients, the use of
cold mixing water will affect a good reduction of concrete temperature.
• When the ambient temperature is extremely high, the usage of cooled
water may be ineffective. Ice can be used as part of the water-mixing
process. Crushed ice can be added directly to the mixer. It must be
assured that the ice crystals are entirely melted by the time the mixing is
finished.
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 PRECAUTIONS FOR HOT WEATHER CONCRETING
• Production and Delivery
• The temperature of aggregates, water, and cement must be kept as low as possible
so that the temperature of the concrete is less than 40°C at the time of placement.
Just before pouring the concrete, the reinforcement, formwork, and subgrade should
be sprayed with cooled water. Any reinforcement that protrudes from the concrete
should be covered or kept cool in any practicable way. Additional masons are
needed to finish the concreting at the same rate as under normal conditions in hot
weather concreting conditions.
• The concrete is laid in relatively thin layers to shorten the time delay between
successive lifts. It should be emphasized that the covering should not be so thin
that it dries out too quickly. To minimize moisture loss from the concrete after
completion, it must be effectively covered.
• It is preferable to cover the top of the concrete with a wet gunny bag or hessian
fabric to counter hot weather concreting conditions. Care should be taken to ensure
that the gunny bag is completely squeezed so that water does not drip into the fresh
concrete.
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 Problems in Hot Weather Concreting
• Several hot weather concreting procedures rely on the steps taken to limit the
cement hydration processes within the concrete and to reduce the rate of
moisture evaporation from freshly mixed concrete. In hot weather concreting,
the following tangible issues are:-
• Increasing water demand.
• Higher slump loss rate.
• Higher setting rate.
• Greater susceptibility to plastic shrinkage cracking.
• Higher difficulty in controlling entrained air content.
• Lower 28-day and later strengths.
• Greater susceptibility to differential thermal cracking.
• Increased surface variability.
• Increased permeability.

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 EFFECTS OF HOT WEATHER CONCRETING
• High Water Demand
• Hot weather causes moisture loss, which reduces the workability of
fresh concrete. This results in a rise in water demand to maintain the
required workability.
• Rapid Loss of Workability
• During hot weather, the rate of hydration and moisture loss is rapid,
resulting in a loss of concrete workability.
• Decrease in Concrete Setting Time
• Due to rapid hydration reaction, the initial setting time of concrete is
significantly reduced, which reduces the time available for
transportation, placement, and finishing of the concrete.

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 Effects of Hot Weather Concreting
• Plastic Shrinkage Cracks
• With increasing temperature and wind speed, and decreasing relative humidity,
the rate of evaporation increases. When freshly placed concrete bleeds or when
water moves from the inner surface of the concrete member, this moisture
evaporates faster than it is replaced by the bleeding action. This results in the
formation of plastic shrinkage cracks on the concrete surface.
• Strength of Concrete
• The rate of hydration reaction increases as temperature rises, resulting in greater
early strength but decreased long-term strength of the concrete. This occurs as a
result of moisture loss and a decrease in workability, which affects compaction.
• Durability of Concrete
• As previously discussed, hot weather reduces the workability of concrete, and to
compensate, more water is added, resulting in the formation of pores inside the
concrete as moisture evaporates quickly. The concrete becomes porous as a
result, and its durability reduces.
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 COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

Cold weather concreting refers to the process of placing, curing, and

protecting concrete during low ambient temperatures. The cold weather
can adversely affect the concrete's strength, durability, and appearance.
Special precautions such as using accelerators, insulating blankets, and
heaters are necessary to ensure successful cold weather concreting.

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 COLD WEATHER CONCRETING
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) defines cold weather concreting as
"a period when the average daily ambient temperature is below (or
predicted to dip below) 40°F (5°C) for more than 3 continuous days”. The
average daily temperature is the mean of the highest and lowest
temperatures measured between midnight and midnight. When
temperatures exceed 50°F (10°C) for more than half of any 24-hour
period, the time is no longer considered cold weather."

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 EFFECTS OF COLD WEATHER ON CONCRETE
• Cold weather has significant detrimental effects on concrete, which
need to be considered carefully. These effects include:
• Extended setting and curing time: Extremely low temperatures
noticeably hinder the hydration process of cement, resulting in
prolonged setting and curing periods for concrete.
• Decreased strength development: Cold weather greatly impedes the
development of concrete strength. The slowed-down hydration reaction
at lower temperatures results in inadequate early-age strength gain.
• Increased risk of cracking: Concrete subjected to rapid temperature
fluctuations is susceptible to thermal stress and subsequent cracking.
The contraction disparity between the outer surface and the interior
during cold weather causes tensile stresses, leading to undesirable
cracks.

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 EFFECTS OF COLD WEATHER ON CONCRETE
• Surface deterioration: Freezing and thawing cycles inflict damage on
concrete by causing surface scaling and spalling. These cycles
repeatedly expand and contract the concrete, resulting in the flaking off
of the top layer.
• Impaired workability: Concrete's workability is severely affected by cold
weather conditions. Its reduced fluidity makes it incredibly challenging
to properly place and finish.
• Elevated water requirements: Cold weather necessitates a higher
demand for water in concrete due to the slower hydration reactions. To
maintain workability, additional water is often required.

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 THANKS

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