Quantifying concrete adiabatic temperature rise based on temperature-dependent isothermal calorimetry; modeling and validation

The durability of massive concrete structures may be compromised by delayed ettringite formation and thermal cracking. Designers have sought to develop alternative mix designs to control these durability issues, the efficacy of which depends on the adiabatic temperature rise of the mixtures. This contribution introduces a methodology for the prediction of the adiabatic temperature rise of concrete mixtures based on isothermal calorimetry. It is proposed that performing isothermal calorimetry at different temperatures is sufficient to predict heat of hydration under adiabatic conditions with high accuracy. The method is validated through the simulation of the internal temperatures of two mid-scale experiments which involve different cementitious materials. The method is also used to calculate adiabatic temperature rise curves for nine different concrete mixtures with varying characteristics. Utilizing the robust isothermal calorimetry to find accurate adiabatic temperature rises is of technological value since it facilitates the optimization of mass concrete mixture selection.