Thermal cracking of massive concrete structures

Editors: Eduardo M.R. Fairbairn, Miguel Azenha

This book provides a State of the Art Report (STAR) produced by RILEM Technical Committee 254-CMS ‘Thermal Cracking of Mas-sive Concrete Structures’.

Several recent developments related to the old problem of understanding/predicting stresses originated from the evolution of the hydration of concrete are at the origin of the creation this technical committee.

Having identified a lack in the organization of up-to-date scientific and technological knowledge about cracking induced by hydration heat effects, this STAR aims to provide both practitioners and scientists with a deep integrated overview of consolidated knowledge, together with recent developments on this subject.

This book results from the coordinated efforts of the members of RILEM TC 254-CMS ‘Thermal Cracking of Massive Concrete Structures’, which was proposed by Eduardo M. R. Fairbairn (Chair of the TC) in 2013.

The subject matter of this TC was initially centred in establishing a state-of-the-art report (STAR) on principles, criteria, methods and technologies applied worldwide to control thermal cracking in mass concrete, such as concrete dams, nuclear power plants, massive foundations and massive members of concrete structures (including those in which cracking risk does not arise from large volumes of concrete).

The TC also targets the establishment of guidelines on how to analyse and to control the risk of thermal cracks in mass concrete.

Thermal cracking of massive concrete structures offers quick and unique access to the state of the art on early-age cracking of concrete

Thermal cracking of massive concrete structures provides both a scientific vision and a practical approach

Thermal cracking of massive concrete structures combines expertise of 30 academics and engineers from various continents