What Happens When Concrete Freezes?

http://www.cement.org/for-concrete-books-learning/concrete-technology/concreteconstruction/cold-weather-concreting
Weather conditions at a jobsite hot or cold, windy or calm, dry or humid may be vastly
different from the optimum conditions assumed at the time a concrete mix is specified, designed,
or selected or from laboratory conditions in which concrete specimens are stored and tested.
Concrete can be placed in cold weather conditions provided adequate precautions are taken to
alleviate the negative impacts of low ambient temperatures. The current American Concrete
Institute (ACI) definition of cold-weather concreting, as stated in ACI 306 is, a period when for
more than three successive days the average daily air temperature drops below 40 degrees
Fahrenheit and stays below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for more than one-half of any 24 hour period.
This definition can potentially lead to problems with freezing of the concrete at an early age.

All concrete must be protected from freezing until it has

reached a minimum strength of 500 pounds per square inch (psi), which typically happens within
the first 24 hours. If concrete freezes while it is still fresh or before it has developed sufficient
strength to resist the expansive forces associated with the freezing water, ice formation results in
the disruption of the cement paste matrix causing an irreparable loss in strength. Early freezing
can result in a reduction of up to 50 percent in the ultimate strength. Once concrete has attained a
compressive strength of around 500 psi, it is generally considered to have sufficient strength to
resist significant expansion and damage if frozen. Whenever air temperature at the time of
concrete placement is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and freezing temperatures within the first 24
hours after placement are expected, the following general issues should be considered:

Initial concrete temperature as delivered

During cold weather, it may be necessary to heat one or more of the concrete materials (water
and/or aggregates) to provide the proper concrete temperature as delivered. Due to the quantities
and heat capacity of cement, using hot cement is not an effective method in raising the initial
concrete temperature.

Protection while the concrete is placed, consolidated, and

finished

The exposure of concrete to cold weather will extend the time required for it to reach initial set,
which may require finishing crews to be available for a longer period. Depending on the actual
ambient temperature, protection of a concrete placement may require the use of windbreaks,
enclosures, or supplementary heat. It may also be appropriate to adjust the concrete mixture
constituents for the effect of ambient temperature on setting time. This may require an increase
in cement content, the use of an accelerating chemical admixture, or both.
Windbreaks protect the concrete and construction personnel from biting winds that cause
temperature drops and excessive evaporation. Typically, a height of six feet is sufficient.
Windbreaks could be taller or shorter depending on anticipated wind velocities, ambient
temperatures, relative humidity, and concrete placement temperatures.
Heated enclosures are very effective for protecting concrete in cold weather, but are probably the
most expensive option. Enclosures can be made of wood, canvas tarpaulins, or polyethylene.
Prefabricated rigid-plastic enclosures are also available.

Three types of heaters are used in cold-weather concrete

construction: direct fired, indirect fired, and hydronic systems. To avoid carbonation of fresh
concrete surfaces, indirect-fired heaters should be used. If the concrete is not exposed to the
heater or exhaust directly, then a direct-fired heater is suitable. Caution should be taken to ensure
that workers are not overexposed to carbon monoxide anytime a heater is used inside an
enclosure. Hydronic systems transfer heat by circulating a glycol/water solution in a closed
system of pipes or hoses. Typical applications for hydronic systems include thawing and
preheating subgrades and heating areas that are too large to be practical for an enclosure.

Curing to produce quality concrete

Curing not only requires adequate moisture, but also appropriate temperature. The temperature of
the concrete as placed should be above 40 degrees Fahrenheit using methods described above,
however the duration of heating is dependent on the type of service for the concrete, ranging

from one day for high-early strength concrete that is not exposed to freeze-thaw events during
service to 20 days or more for a concrete element that would carry large loads at an early age. In
structures that will carry large loads at an early age, concrete must be maintained at a minimum
of 50 degrees Fahrenheit to accommodate stripping of forms and shoring and to permit loading
of the structure.
In no case should concrete be allowed to freeze during the first 24 hours after it has been placed.
Since cement hydration is an exothermic reaction, the concrete mixture produces some heat on
its own. Protecting that heat from escaping the system using polyethylene sheeting or insulating
blankets may be all that is required for good concrete quality. More severe temperatures may
require supplemental heat.

Concrete retained in forms or covered with insulation seldom

loses enough moisture at 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit) to impair curing. However, drying from
low wintertime humidities and heaters used in enclosures is a concern. It is good practice to
leave forms in place as long as possible, because they help distribute heat more evenly and help
prevent drying of the concrete. Live steam exhausted into an enclosure around the concrete is an
excellent method of curing because it provides both heat and moisture. Liquid membraneforming compounds can also be used within heated enclosures for early curing of concrete
surfaces.
It is also important to prevent rapid cooling of the concrete upon termination of the heating
period. Sudden cooling of the concrete surface while the interior is warm may cause thermal
cracking. Methods for gradual cooling of concrete include loosening the forms while maintaining
cover with plastic sheeting or insulation, gradual decrease in heating inside an enclosure, or
turning off the heat and allowing the enclosure to slowly equilibrate to ambient temperature.
Massive structures may require several days or even weeks of gradual cooling to mitigate the
probability of thermal cracking.