Field tests on the evolution of a real thermal field in concrete

The temperature field in a concrete mass was measured during cooling to improve designs for cracking control of high arch dams during construction.Field tests of concrete cooling in a super high arch dam during construction gave real-time data for the concrete temperature during cooling to describe the temperature distribution characteristics and the factors influencing the diffusion.The results show the evolution of the temperature field from a non-uniform distribution to a uniform distribution and the characteristics of the decrease in the concrete temperature which can be generalize into a thermal accumulation stage,thermal release stage and thermal transport stage.Finally,the cracking mechanism along the axial direction of an arch dam was studied basis on the mechanisms during the temperature changes.This study presents ways to control cracking in super high arch dams.