The Use of Surface Thermal Insulation to Regulate the Temperature Regime of a Mass Concrete During Construction

A significant temperature difference between the central zone and the surface of a structure can occur because of the heat generation in cement when making mass concrete. This leads to the formation of tensile stresses and thermal cracks. One of the technological measures to eliminate this adverse effect is to use surface thermal insulation. It can be used both in winter (to prevent excessive cooling of the concrete surface) and in summer (to reduce surface heating). The finite-element method is used to evaluate the effect of the type and thickness of the thermal insulation on the horizontal surface on the temperature regime of the mass concrete. A technique of determining the thickness of surface thermal insulation (polystyrene foam or sand layer) necessary for certain construction conditions is proposed. The results obtained can be used in the design and construction of large concrete blocks.