Low Thermal Concrete

Abstract

The weather in Malaysia is getting hotter by the day and the issue of affected foundation concrete in structures leads to thermal cracking. Concrete members will expand and contract when exposed to hot and cold ambient temperatures, respectively. Cracking will occur if bulk volume charge resulting from temperature variations. Concrete will hit to a certain degree of temperature which is 75°C to 80°C and the dehydration takes place where the process of thermal cracking occurs. The objective of this study are (i) To invent a new low thermal concrete with optimum ratio. (ii) To determine low thermal concrete able to withstand thermal cracking. (iii) To achieve a concrete mixture at 23oC temperature. The mixture of low temperature concrete is cement, aggregate, sand and ice. 1:3:6 mixture ratio is the optimum based on prior experiment for the foundation concreting. The temperature test and workability test are conducted. The normal temperature for a concrete is 34oC. The target concrete temperature of the study is 23oC. The findings show the target concrete temperature achieved at 23.04oC. The content of ice and water combined in the concrete are 100% (186kg). The optimum ice content in the concrete is 41.4% (77kg), water content in the concrete is 58.6% (109kg). This research has successfully achieved the target concrete temperature 23oC which is below the normal concrete temperature 34o C to prevent thermal cracking from occurring. A further investigation and test are needed to ensure low thermal concrete is relevant to apply in construction.