Hydration is the major factor for the growth of the material properties. The time is not an exact parameter to control the chemical and physical processes, but the degree of hydration. Therefore, it is neces- sary that all material parameters…
Hydration is the major factor for the growth of the material properties. The time is not an exact parameter to control the chemical and physical processes, but the degree of hydration. Therefore, it is neces- sary that all material parameters and the development of microstructure should be formulated in terms of de- gree of hydration. The purpose of the present study is to propose and to integrate numerous material laws, e.g. a reasonable model for the degree of hydration and also the models for other important material properties including the1mal and moisture properties, in finite element program. The 3D finite element procedure is fornmlated to evaluate degree of hydration, temperature and moisture distributions in hardening concrete. The mathematical fonnulation of degree of hydration is based on the combination of three rate functions of reac- tion. All moisture parameters were considered to be age-dependent. Prediction of a moisture sink due to the hydration process, i.e. self-desiccation, is related to autogenous shrinkage, which may cause early-age crack- ing in high strength and high performance concrete. The realistic models and the finite element program de- scribed in this study are strongly necessary for a realistic thermal and shrinkage stress analyses of concrete structures at early ages.