Prediction of temperature response in concrete in a natural climate environment

Natural weather changes due to diurnal and seasonal temperature and relative humidity cycles affect micro-environment of concrete; temperature and moisture content in the concrete fluctuates correspondingly with variations in the weather. This paper mainly discusses the temperature response in concrete. The temperature response of the concrete shows obvious hysteresis characteristics compared with the climate temperature variations due to the thermal properties of the concrete. The temperature in concrete is a main factor influencing concrete carbonization, chloride diffusion and the corrosion rate of steel bars in the concrete. To predict the temperature response in concrete in a natural climate environment, a model based on the behavior of the concrete’s thermal conduction was presented. A method for processing the climate temperature data was devised using the mathematical principle of extreme difference dissection; in this way, a temperature action spectrum can be formed. In view of the above mentioned studies, the corresponding temperature response in the concrete could be predicted. Comparisons between the prediction and the measurement of the temperature responses were carried out.

Research highlights
► A temperature action spectrum is devised based on the climate temperature data.
► The temperature action spectrum is one of climate actions.
► The temperature responses in concrete indicate the effect on the climate action.
► A method for predicting the temperature response in concrete is built.
► The responses show obvious hysteresis characteristics with the climate variations.