Mass Concrete

Mass concrete is any volume of concrete with dimensions bigger enough to requires measures to deal with the generation of heat from the hydration of cement and adjustments within the attendant quantity to reduce cracks. The one characteristic that distinguishes mass concrete from other concrete work is thermal behavior.

In general, any placement of structural concrete with a minimum dimension of more than 36 inches or more is considered mass concrete.

Here we will learn about mass concrete, applications of mass concrete & much more.

Introduction to mass concrete:

In mass concrete, an increase in temperature within the concrete causes an outward expansion during the initial phase of the setting.

Due to the heat of hydration, the temperature of the internal area of ​​the concrete will be higher than that of the external zone.

The strength of concrete gains in the first 7 days, during which most of the heat is generated, causing cracks.

It is needed to control the heat of hydration in concrete and it should also be prohibited when rapid cooling of the concrete surface.

Materials used for mass Concrete:

Portland cement:

The minimal quantity of Portland cement used to achieve the desired strength for each hydration and financial system.

Pozzolanas:

In addition to pozzolana such as fly ash helps in reducing the heat of hydration, achieving practicality and delayed strength.

Aggregate:

Fine aggregates and coarse aggregates should meet the IS requirement of grading.

In the case of structural concrete for large beams and columns 20–30 mm aggregate for dams 40 mm can be used.

When the total to the total ratio should be exactly below.

Mixing Water:

The mixing water should be very low to give low deceleration (0–50 mm).

Admixture:

Adding water reducing and retiring is very useful.

Mass concrete for the pump provides high-grade water reduction and retiring penetration after 12–18 mm with the addition of a superplasticizer.

Coolants:

In hot weather conditions the temperature of the this concrete should be controlled between 5 °C and 20°C.

When adding finely chopped ice instead of water will help to keep the overall moist should be depressed.

When steel forms should be sprayed with cold water.

Properties of Mass Concrete:

Workability:

Workability is the property of concrete that determines the amount of useful internal work required to produce complete condensation.

It should be optimal for mass concrete, uniformity of functionality is essential in this concrete tasks because generally the economy requires less cement content.

Durability:

Concrete’s ability to resist weathering action, chemical attack and abrasion as a weathering this combination depends on design, workmanship, inserting and curing.

Concrete with a low water-cement ratio provides properly consolidated and durable concrete.

When the durability of concrete will depend on the properties of the material improves the chemical resistance of concrete.

The durability of the weather can be further improved in an interval of one minute, which is then bubbled into the concrete.

Water tightness:

Water tightness property of concrete in hydraulic structures such as dams, etc.

Concrete must be impermeable can also be obtained using good quality aggregates, low water-cement ratios, good consolidation while placing a lean mix used in mass large concrete.

They used for dams, pozzolanas can be added to concrete mixtures to improve the water tightness.

Strength:

The strength of the concrete is defined as the resistance provided by the concrete against load, so that failure can be avoided.

When it is determined by water-cement ratio, high quality of aggregates, compaction, curing and many others.

Sometimes it is economical to add pozzolana or use Portland pozzolana cement as an alternative to ordinary cement concrete.

After they provide the ultimate strength and water tightness of concrete, pozzolanas also increase the plasticity and workability of concrete.

Uses of Mass Concrete:

Mass concreting is used for massive structures such as dams, bridges, retaining wall, pier and large foundation.

Also read: Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC), Pervious Concrete & Green Concrete

Conclusion:

Large-scale concreting techniques are used for large structures such as dams, large bridge piers and foundations.

Mass concrete is a concrete with a better proportion of coarse mixture and it decreases the proportion of cement, larger size aggregates & more.