Phase III: Investigation and Guidelines for Best Practices of Thermal Control for Mass Concrete Construction Projects

Details

• Creators:
  Cho, Yong Kwon ; Gentry, Russell ; Kurtis, Kimberly ; Brown, Jason ; Hasani, Luna Al ; Kim, Seongyong ; Lee, Soo Hyun
• Corporate Creators:
  Georgia Institute of Technology
• Corporate Contributors:
  Georgia Department of Transportation ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Benefit Cost Analysis Best Practices Construction Guidelines Mass Concrete Nomograph Thermal Analysis
• Publication/ Report Number:
  2221
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2025)
• Corporate Publisher:
  Georgia. Department of Transportation. Office of Research
• Abstract:
  The objective of this research is to expand and validate decision-making tools and best practices for mass concrete thermal management, integrating emerging cementitious materials. Building on the foundations established in previous phases, this project evaluates an expanded range of concrete mix designs—including Type IL cement and reclaimed fly ash—and extends the applicability of nomogram-based tools across diverse thermal control scenarios. The study focuses on validating and refining the decision-making aids developed in Phase II, enhancing their predictive accuracy under varying geometries, cooling methods, and material compositions. Comprehensive simulations, laboratory testing, and a field-based simulation case study at the Albany Bridge project assess the thermal performance of the novel mix types associated with cooling methods. Findings indicate that SCM-rich mixes, particularly those with 40% reclaimed fly ash, effectively mitigate thermal gradients while maintaining compressive strength without requiring active cooling systems. The results emphasize the viability of pre-cooling and passive insulation as cost-effective strategies, providing GDOT with actionable guidance for sustainable mass concrete construction. The research further demonstrates that integrating SCM-rich mixes not only reduces thermal gradients but also shortens curing durations, leading to potential cost savings in labor and material expenses. The findings underscore the strategic importance of adopting reclaimed fly ash as a sustainable alternative amidst declining fly ash availability, aligning thermal control practices with broader environmental objectives.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  0019326
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cdfc1f256e028dff66dc9a535fcaf6827dae841475a3764be98a8ff7a3b07d37c5482d61fa3432c553d84a18201ebee3ece0b96d515843d4a158ef8a996e43b8
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86891/dot_86891_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.35 MB ]