Massivity index and numerical analysis of concrete specimens

Resumo

This study is focused on the behavior of massive concrete structures and the stresses caused by the temperature variation, which occurs along the development of the hydration reaction. However, before a heat transfer analysis takes place, it is necessary to determine if the structure is massive or not. In this scope this article studies a proposal of enhanced massivity index, which is helpful to determine what kind of analysis is more suitable for each structure element. It also presents an analysis of a concrete block, which was modeled with two different softwares, considering also two different situations. The first one considered the block was filled with concrete at once. The second considered the concrete was discharged in four steps, which lasted fifteen minutes each. That gives us an insight of the thermal effects variation according to the different possible concrete plannings. The model results were compared with experimental results, since the the block was concreted in the laboratory and monitored with thermocouples.