Don’t Get Burned by Mass Concrete
For many projects, increases to design concrete strength and schedule requirements for accelerated construction create a need for achieving strength at earlier ages. At the same time, many portions of concrete structures have also become larger to meet the demands of more advanced projects. Concrete hydration is exothermic, meaning it generates heat. Bigger elements with more cementitious materials mean more heat. This combination of conditions can create significant structural and durability issues if not addressed ahead of time.
The practicing structural engineer should be aware of the standard of care for mass concrete requirements. ACI documents, including ACI SPEC-301-20 and ACI PRC-207.1R-21, include numerous updates to help practically address common mass concrete issues. This webinar will discuss mass concrete issues broadly, as well the recent changes to guidance and specifications that could help avoid big problems with mass concrete and temperature on your next project.
Learning objectives:
At the end of the presentation, attendees will
- Understand the different roles and responsibilities regarding mass concrete on a project.
- Understand recently updated guidance on the definition of mass concrete.
- Understand how to determine if there is mass concrete on a project.
- Understand practical changes to concrete mixture design and specifications that will reduce the risk of durability-related issues on a project.
Presenter Biography:
Dr. Jonathan Poole, PE (14 states) is a Principal with MJ2 Consulting, Cedar Park, TX, which was formed in 2017. He received a BS, MS, and PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He is the current chair of ACI 207 Mass and Thermally Controlled Concrete and a voting member of ACI 305 Hot Weather Concrete and ACI 301. He previously served as president of the Austin SEAoT chapter. Dr. Poole’s graduate research was on mass concrete, and he has co-authored multiple peer reviewed journal articles on concrete materials, and regularly presents at technical conferences. Dr. Poole focuses on investigation of pavement and structural issues, concrete materials evaluation and forensics, mass concrete placements, and construction troubleshooting. He has 20 years of progressive experience, as a construction materials technician, a heavy civil contractor on a variety of bridge and paving projects, and a forensic engineer managing large, complex investigations.