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The present article discusses the effects of temperature on the performance of both fresh and hardened concrete and on the properties of its constituent materials, from an industrial perspective. The primary aim of the study was to optimize concrete in very warm environments. Certain industrial procedures are proposed to minimize the adverse effects of climate on ready-mixed concrete performance. A number of experiments were conducted to determine the effect of extreme temperatures on the thermal behaviour, workability and mechanical properties of concrete, cement mortars, cement pastes, and aggregates. The results showed that aggregates, the predominant component of concrete, are especially temperature-labile. Basic measures for optimizing concrete performance in very warm weather were also developed. This procedure was successfully applied on an industrial scale in readymixed concrete production plants, where it yielded significant savings in summertime cement consumption.

The present article discusses the effects of temperature on the performance of both fresh and hardened concrete and on the properties of its constituent materials, from an industrial perspective. The primary aim of the study was to optimize concrete in very warm environments. Certain industrial procedures are proposed to minimize the adverse effects of climate on ready-mixed concrete performance. A number of experiments were conducted to determine the effect of extreme temperatures on the thermal behaviour, workability and mechanical properties of concrete, cement mortars, cement pastes, and aggregates. The results showed that aggregates, the predominant component of concrete, are especially temperature-labile. Basic measures for optimizing concrete performance in very warm weather were also developed. This procedure was successfully applied on an industrial scale in readymixed concrete production plants, where it yielded significant savings in summertime cement consumption., En este artículo se presenta un estudio sobre los efectos de la temperatura ambiental sobre las prestaciones del hormigón, en estado fresco y endurecido, y sobre las propiedades de los materiales constituyentes del mismo, desde una perspectiva industrial. El objetivo principal es el de optimizar la dosificación del hormigón en climas cálidos y al mismo tiempo, establecer medidas de actuación a nivel industrial para minimizar los efectos adversos en plantas de producción de hormigón preparado. En la primera parte del artículo, se muestran los resultados de varias campañas experimentales cuyo propósito ha sido determinar la influencia de las temperaturas ambientales extremas sobre las propiedades térmicas, de trabajabilidad y mecánicas del hormigón, así como de morteros, pastas de cemento y áridos. Las conclusiones apuntan al árido como un factor de gran importancia, no sólo por las características específicas de su comportamiento con la temperatura, sino también, porque es el componente presente en mayor contenido en el hormigón. En la segunda parte del artículo, se presentan las bases de una formulación metodológica para llevar a cabo la optimización del hormigón en climas cálidos.