Title: Thermal Expansion of Concrete and Reinforced Concrete

Author(s): Carl Berwanger and A. Faruque Sarkar

Publication: Journal Proceedings

Volume: 73

Issue: 11

Appears on pages(s): 618-621

Keywords: age: composite construction (concrete and steel); compressive strength; expansion: freezing; low temperatures;plain cancrete: reinforced concrete; reinforcing steels: thermal expansion: thermal properties;thermal stresses;water-cement ratio.

DOI: 10.14359/11102

Date: 11/1/1976

Abstract:
The thermal coefficient of expansion of concrete and reinforced concrete have been determined under short-term steady state temperatures, - IO0 to 150 F (-73 to 66 C). Specimens were cured both satuuratad and air-dried in the laboratory and tested at 7, 28, and 84 days and at I year. One hundred and twenty-five 3 x 4 x I2 in, (7.6 x IO x 30.5 cm) reinforced concrete prisms were tasted for thermal coefficient of expansion. The coefficient decreased with increase in the water-cement ratio, increased with age, and was smaller below the freezing point of the concrete. The saturated concrete had lower coefficients than the air-dried concrete. Steel reinforcement ranged from 0 to about 5 percent. The coefficient for symmetrically reinforced concrete increased with the steel percentage. 1: For unsymmetrically reinforced concrete, the coefficient for the face at the steel increased and the coefficient for the opposite face decreased with increased steel. Eighty-four 6 x I2 in. (15.2 x 30.5 cm) concrete control cylinders wet tested for compressive strength and static modulus of elasticity of concrete.