(Issued 1 Dec.

1973) C 37

CRD-C 37-73

METHOD OF TEST FOR

THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY OF MASS CONCRETE

1. Scope

1.1 This method of test serves

determine the thermal diffusiv-
ity of specimens of mass concrete
consisting of 8-cu-ft (0.0227 m3 )
cubes.

2. Apparatus

2.1 The apparatus used shall con-

sist of:
2.1.1 An insulated cabinet contain-
ing heating element, blower, shower
heads, and drain, as shown in Figs. 1
and 2.
2.1.2 A six-point recording
potentiometer.
2.1.3 A source of constant- Fig. 2. Shower head mounted under
temperature cooling water, providing lid of cabinet

Fig. 1. Insulated cabinet used in test for thermal

diffusivity of mass concrete

1
 (Issued 1 Dec. 1973)

2 TEST FOR THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY OF MASS CONCRETE (C 37-73)

a t l e a s t 2 0 0 0 g p h ( 2 . 1 0 3 X 1 0 - 3m 3 / s ) . flow of water from the shower heads

2.1.4 An overhead crane to place will fall equally on the top and verti-
specimens. cal surfaces of the specimen. The
2.1.5 Two thermostats set for 150 F bottom surface shall be kept covered
(66 C) and 100 F (38 C), placed inside with water to a depth of not more
cabinet for controlling heating of cab- than 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) by proper loca-
inet and specimens. tion of the elevations of drain openings
2.1.6 A time clock capable of set- in the cabinet with respect to the
tings up to 9 hr, which will switch con- metal plates that support the speci-
trol from 150 F (66 C) thermostat to men. By this procedure an equal
100 F (38 C) thermostat. distribution of cooling water will be
2.1.7 Necessary relays actuated by secured for all surfaces of the speci-
time clock. men. The specimen then shall be
2.1.8 A source of 115 v AC power. heated by hot air at a temperature
The operation of the controls is ef- not exceeding 150 F (66 C) for approx-
fected by setting the time clock to imately 7 hr 20 min, at which time a
provide heating controlled at 150 F relay actuated by the time clock will
(66 C) for a specified time, at the ex- operate, placing the cabinet under
piration of which the clock actuates control of the 100 F (38 C) thermostat
relays changing control to the 100 F for a period of at least 6 hr longer.
(38 C) thermostat until the power is The specimen will be in thermal equi-
manually cut off. librium at 100 F (38 C). At this time
the heater switch will be opened and
3. Specimens water admitted to the spray nozzles.
The flow shall be of sufficient inten-
3.1 The specimens shall consist of sity to cover the bottom face of the
8 - c u - f t ( 0 . 0 2 2 7 m3 ) c u b e s o f c o n c r e t e block continuously. This will imme-
made in accordance with the applica- diately cool the surface of the block
ble provisions of CRD-C’s 10 and 49. to the temperature of the water, and
A metal ring shall be embedded in the this condition will be maintained until
concrete to permit hoisting of the the central temperature of the block
specimen and a thermocouple shall be is within 5 F (2.8 C) of the surface
embedded at the center of mass at the t e m p e r a t u r e . Thereupon, the flow of
time of casting. After hardening and water will be cut off, and heating of
curing for from 21 to 28 days, a sec- the block will be resumed. Three
ond thermocouple shall be placed similar runs will be made for each
upon one face of the cube and secured specimen. The surface, water, cabi-
by a metal plate screwed to the face net, and central temperatures will be
of the cube. This thermocouple shall continuously recorded to 0.1 F (0.06 C)
be placed tightly against the face of by the recording potentiometer
the cube so as to indicate the true throughout the entire heating-and-
surface temperature of the concrete cooling cycle.
specimen. The metal plate shall be
approximately 4 by 4 by 1/8 in. (102 5. Calculations
by 102 by 3.2 mm) in size and will be
screwed tightly against the thermo- 5.1 The record of surface and cen-
couple to insure intimate contact be- tral temperatures of the cube during
tween the thermocouple and the con- the cooling period shall be taken from
crete. The screw which holds the the potentiometer chart for 15-min in-
plate may be run into a lead plug t e r v a l s . The diffusivity shall be de-
which has been set into a small hole termined from the time-temperature
drilled into the cube. history of the cooling run by
computing:
4. Procedure
Y = (t' - t)/(t' - tc )
4.1 The specimen shall be placed
in the cabinet so that the bottom cor-
ners rest on metal plates approxi-
mately 2 by 2 by 1/2 in. (51 by 51 by where:
13 mm) in size, located so that the t' = surface temperature during
 (Issued 1 Dec. 1973) C 37

TEST FOR THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY OF MASS CONCRETE (C 37-73) 3

cooling (may be averaged if vari- hour intervals using equation (1)

ation is less than 3 F (1.7 C) for shall be compared with the chart on
entire cooling period, essentially F i g . 3 ,1 a n d v a l u e s f o r X o b t a i n e d
equal to the temperature of the thereby. The diffusivity shall then be
immersing water), degrees F, calculated from equation (2). Results
t = temperature at center of cube at of these calculations for the first 2
time , degrees F, or 3 hr (depending on the diffusivity)
tc = i n i t i a l t e m p e r a t u r e o f c u b e p r i o r will be discarded due to inaccuracies
to cooling, degrees F, i n e s t i m a t e s o f X . At least eight
= thermal diffusivity of the cube, values for X shall be obtained for
f t2 / h r , m2 / s , each run, and the average value of
= time after commencement of d e t e r m i n e d . The average values
cooling, hr, and for in successive runs shall vary
r = distance from center to surface n o t o v e r 0 . 0 0 5 f t2 / h r ( 1 . 2 9 0 X 1 0- 7
( f o r 8 - c u - f t ( 0 . 0 2 2 7 m3 ) c u b e , m 2/ s ) .
r = 1), ft.
5.2 Values of Y computed from
the temperature readings at quarter- 1
Williamson and Adams, Phys. Rev. (2), 14 (1919). p-99.
 (Issued 1 Dec. 1973)

4 TEST FOR THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY OF MASS CONCRETE (C 37-73)