2. Controlling cracking at an early age

2.1 Stresses produced during setting and curing

The mechanical effects resulting from the temperature fields generated by cement hydration are often considerable, and in certain structures (dams, foundation blocks, etc.) can be far more dominant than strictly mechanical actions, especially in the early stages of construction.

The heat produced by cement hydration creates an imbalance with the surrounding environment, generating heat flows and consequently temperature gradients.

• The deformations resulting from temperature variations are therefore never uniform, which generates stresses. The deformations observed are therefore not a simple function of local temperature variation alone, but always involve structural...