Title:
Avoiding Injury in Cold Weather: For Humans and for Recently-Cast Concrete
Author(s):
Kenneth Hover
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
24
Issue:
11
Appears on pages(s):
31-36
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
11/1/2002
Abstract:
Cold weather can bring out peak performance in both portland cement concrete and the human body while at the same time putting both at risk of cold weather injury. One reason for this common vulnerability to cold weather is that both freshly-cast concrete and the human body are water-based systems, and are therefore susceptible to freezing in winter weather. Portland cement needs water to hydrate and cold weather cannot only freeze this essential water, but dry and windy winter weather can also rapidly desiccate warm, moist concrete.