In today’s market, it is imperative to be knowledgeable and have an edge over the competition. ACI members have it…they are engaged, informed, and stay up to date by taking advantage of benefits that ACI membership provides them.
Read more about membership
Learn More
Become an ACI Member
Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, the American Concrete Institute is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the development and distribution of consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational programs, and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials, who share a commitment to pursuing the best use of concrete.
American Concrete Institute 38800 Country Club Dr. Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3439 USA
Phone: 1.248.848.3700 Fax: 1.248.848.3701 Staff Directory
Email Support
Feedback via Email Phone: 1.248.848.3800
Home > Tools > Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When is a structural section large enough to be defined as mass concrete? We're concerned about the potential for thermal cracking caused by heat of hydration in a structure that isn't a dam but is of fairly massive size. A. ACI doesn't use specific size limits to define mass concrete. ACI 301-16 “Specifications for Structural Concrete” defines mass concrete as any volume of structural concrete in which a combination of dimensions of the member being cast, the boundary conditions, the characteristics of the concrete mixture, and the ambient conditions can lead to undesirable thermal stresses, cracking, deleterious chemical reactions, or reduction in the long-term strength as a result of elevated concrete temperature due to heat of hydration. ACI 301-16 states that the only characteristic that distinguishes mass concrete from other concrete work is thermal behavior that may cause a loss of structural integrity and monolithic action. According to ACI 301-16, the maximum temperature in mass concrete after placement shall not exceed 160 °F (70 °C); and the maximum temperature difference between center and surface of placement shall not exceed 35 °F (19 °C). To reduce thermal stresses and control cracking, the temperature of concrete should be controlled by: - Materials selection, mainly the cementitious material content. - Precooling of ingredients and postcooling of the concrete to lower temperature. - Construction management, where efforts are made to protect the structure from excessive temperature differentials by knowledge of concrete handling, construction scheduling, and construction procedures. For more information on mass concrete refer to section 8 of ACI 301-16, ACI 207.1R-05 “Guide to Mass Concrete”, 207.2R-07 “Report on Thermal and Volume Change Effects on Cracking of Mass Concrete”, and 224R-01 “Control of Cracking of Concrete Structures”. References: ACI 301-16; ACI 207.1R-05; ACI 207.2R-07; ACI 224R-01 Topics in Concrete: cracking; curing; durability; mass concrete; placing
Q. When is a structural section large enough to be defined as mass concrete? We're concerned about the potential for thermal cracking caused by heat of hydration in a structure that isn't a dam but is of fairly massive size.
A. ACI doesn't use specific size limits to define mass concrete. ACI 301-16 “Specifications for Structural Concrete” defines mass concrete as any volume of structural concrete in which a combination of dimensions of the member being cast, the boundary conditions, the characteristics of the concrete mixture, and the ambient conditions can lead to undesirable thermal stresses, cracking, deleterious chemical reactions, or reduction in the long-term strength as a result of elevated concrete temperature due to heat of hydration.
ACI 301-16 states that the only characteristic that distinguishes mass concrete from other concrete work is thermal behavior that may cause a loss of structural integrity and monolithic action. According to ACI 301-16, the maximum temperature in mass concrete after placement shall not exceed 160 °F (70 °C); and the maximum temperature difference between center and surface of placement shall not exceed 35 °F (19 °C).
To reduce thermal stresses and control cracking, the temperature of concrete should be controlled by:
- Materials selection, mainly the cementitious material content.
- Precooling of ingredients and postcooling of the concrete to lower temperature.
- Construction management, where efforts are made to protect the structure from excessive temperature differentials by knowledge of concrete handling, construction scheduling, and construction procedures.
For more information on mass concrete refer to section 8 of ACI 301-16, ACI 207.1R-05 “Guide to Mass Concrete”, 207.2R-07 “Report on Thermal and Volume Change Effects on Cracking of Mass Concrete”, and 224R-01 “Control of Cracking of Concrete Structures”.
References: ACI 301-16; ACI 207.1R-05; ACI 207.2R-07; ACI 224R-01
Topics in Concrete: cracking; curing; durability; mass concrete; placing
Search other resources on the ACI website for answers to technical questions