Concreting at Low Ambient Temperatures at Salma Dam Project Afghanistan - A Case Study

The kinetics of hydration of cement directly influences the development of strength and other intrinsic properties of concrete. Meteorological conditions such as temperature, humidity in the atmosphere, wind speed or combinations of these conditions which prevail at the time of concreting and its subsequent curing periods regulate the kinetics of hydration of cement. If these conditions happens to be extreme, due precautions are needed to be taken to achieve desired properties and performance of concrete. The paper presents the outcome of the comprehensive study carried out at Salma Dam, Afghanistan to assess the effects of mixing and curing temperature on the various properties of concrete like compressive strength, workability, air entrainment etc.