Cooling Structural Concrete before Placement

Hot weather introduces problems in manufacturing, placing and curing portland cement concrete that can adversely affect the properties and service ability of the hardened concrete. The effects of high atmospheric temperature on a number of properties of concrete are investigated including the problems of making and placing of concrete. The second effect is the development of heat due to hydration of the cement. A detailed study of the cooling of concrete before placement including the economics of such an operation, concludes that this is a practical and economical solution for most concrete structures constructed in areas where the atmospheric temperature will be above the low twenties degrees celsius. The economics of this procedure has only come available due to the development of cooling techniques by liquid nitrogen for ready-mix concrete trucks on construction sites.