Application of distributed temperature sensing for cracking control of mass concrete

This paper presents a framework of cracking control for a mass concrete structure in a reservoir project, by taking advantage of Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) system. The DTS system in this project, mainly consisting of an Optical Backscatter Reflectometer (OBR) interrogation unit and a single fibre-optic cable, was deployed to measure and monitor concrete temperatures of an intake tower in block placement. The temperature measurements in concrete blocks were utilized as the fundamental data to determine the thermal properties of the cast-in-situ concretes, through the inverse analysis method based on temperature simulation. Based on thermal stress simulation using the thermal properties, cracking risks of each concrete block were predicted and evaluated under the modes of temperature control associated with the time-varying construction and ambient conditions, for appropriate modes before and after the concrete placement. The framework of cracking control, developed by integrating the DTS measurement with the temperature forecast and the cracking prediction based on thermal stress simulation and cracking risk evaluation, improves the efficiency of temperature regulation and cracking control in mass concrete construction, and can be further integrated into the intelligent construction management of concrete projects.