At what temperature will concrete crack?

sme

I was wondering what temperature below zero will concrete crack at? Would thickness or insulation or strength have an effect on this tempertaure?

We are in the process of building a comercial freezer which will at most need to go to -10C, it will probably never go past -6C. Its planned that 100mm of polyurethane will go under the concrete which will be 150mm thick.

godtabh

sme wrote: »

I was wondering what temperature below zero will concrete crack at? Would thickness or insulation or strength have an effect on this tempertaure?

We are in the process of building a comercial freezer which will at most need to go to -10C, it will probably never go past -6C. Its planned that 100mm of polyurethane will go under the concrete which will be 150mm thick.

There is a code of practice/standards for the design of concrete in freezers.

I think concrete can be used in colder conditions than that

graigavern

kearnsr wrote: »

There is a code of practice/standards for the design of concrete in freezers.

I think concrete can be used in colder conditions than that

u most likely have the concrete job done by now but i seen concrete been mixed in eastern europe at minus 25 celicus. the base is still standing strong all these years later, o ya they added in car anti freeze while doing the job so the mix would'nt freeze while they where doing the job!!!!!!!

godtabh

The big thing about concrete in very cold conditions is that concrete has an exothermic reaction going on while its curing.

The temp difference at the surface and inside it causes thermal cracking which is bad for the concrete.

Dont see what anti freeze would do for the concrete

construct06

would allow the concrete to 'go off' and enter the curing process.

otherwise you would end up with a mixture that would not bond and just crumble apart...

enda1

As far as I remember the use of an air entraining agent is recommended when your concrete is to go through large thermal changes (example used at the time way a runway). This allows the concrete to contract by just compressing the air bubbles and likewise expand.