A Study on the Thermal Crack Control of Foundation for Large Turbine

Abstract

Heat of hydration of mass concrete is one of the most important factors that significantly affect structural quality and construction period. Therefore, appropriate methods to control heat of hydration are essential technologies for mass concrete construction. In this study, probability of thermal cracking was checked by thermal analysis prior to the construction of a turbine foundation in a domestic power plant. Subsequently, changes of concrete mix proportion and an effective curing method were proposed to control heat of hydration of mass concrete structures. Concrete manufactured by slag cement was proposed instead of concrete produced by ordinary Portland cement, and an automated curing method was proposed to improve the curing method using typical moist curing with blanket. The automated curing method maintains the temperature difference between center and surface of concrete below a setting value by temperature monitoring. Concrete with slag cement was used for actual construction. One of two identical turbine foundations was cured by an insulated curing method, and the other was cured by the automated curing method to compare the curing methods. And then, the effects of control of heat of hydration were evaluated based on temperature/strain monitoring and crack investigations.