Evaluation of early-age cracking risk in mass concrete footings under different placement conditions

Abstract

This article presents the assessment of early-age cracking risk in a mass concrete footing which is cast under different construction conditions. A finite element (FE) model was developed for predicting temperature, thermal stress, and cracking potential in a concrete footing at early age. Different scenarios of concrete placement were considered to investigate the effect of construction stages on thermal cracking potential in the concrete. The analysis method in this study can help engineers optimize construction schedules to control temperature and reduce cracking risk in mass concrete structures.