Experimental study of the effect of temperature on the strength of ready-mixed concrete. Theory

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.