Hot weather accelerates early-age strength gain, which can be an advantage in construction, but temperatures that are too high could cause concrete durability problems such as delayed ettringite formation (DEF) or drying shrinkage.

What effect does hot weather have on concreting?

Placing concrete in hot weather necessitates extra precautions to ensure that the concrete sets properly and gains strength at a stable rate. Hot weather accelerates early-age strength gain, which can be an advantage in construction, but temperatures that are too high could cause concrete durability problems such as delayed ettringite formation (DEF) or drying shrinkage.

Therefore, regulating the temperature of concrete in hot weather is essential to its proper strength development. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) specifies in ACI 305R-10 Guide to Hot Weather Concreting recommended maximum concrete temperatures both at delivery and during curing. These recommendations are often mirrored as requirements in job specifications.

How can you monitor the internal temperature of concrete?

To ensure the internal temperature of concrete remains below the maximum temperature threshold per ACI and/or project specifications, sensors can be embedded in the concrete to continuously monitor and record concrete temperature at regular intervals. This data informs the user of the concrete’s current temperature as well as temperature history, so the user can verify compliance with project specifications or take corrective action if the temperatures are approaching the limit identified in the specifications.

Monitor Concrete in Hot Weather

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