THERMAL ANALYSIS OF CONCRETE DAMS DURING

CONSTRUCTION
Application to Alquevas Dam

Elosa Castilho

Department of Civil Engineering, IST, Technical University of Lisbon

Abstract
With this work it is intended to analyse the thermal action on concrete dams, in particular during the construction
phase. Numerical simulation of dams thermal behaviour is very useful in taking decisions about the construction process,
because only by predicting the influence of each variable on the dams temperature it is possible to plan the construction in
order to control it. Among the factors that allow controlling the dams temperature it is possible to highlight: type of
formwork and time it remains in place, lift placement rate (lift height as well as time interval between the placement of lifts)
and, finally, concrete temperature control, either by using special cements, by prior cooling concretes constituent materials,
or by artificial cooling after pouring (post cooling). In order to achieve the goal of this work, the general laws of heat transfer
by radiation, convection and conduction are analysed. Climatic actions are evaluated as they affect thermal state of dams, at
the same time as concretes constituent materials and construction methods do. Regarding climatic factors, functions
describing air and water temperatures and also solar radiation are estimated. Climatic actions modelling, material properties
and the finite element models discretization are evaluated in exploration phase, by comparing models results with in situ
observed temperature. After validating these parameters, the construction phase is studied, which is the main purpose of this
work. Construction phase of the dam is simulated. For this purpose a program was developed, updating the model on every
construction date and evaluating existing elements as well as exposed and formwork faces at each stage. Hydration heat of
Alquevas Dam concrete is estimated, and then the construction phase calculation is performed. The methodology used in the
development of this work revealed to be suitable because, despite all the uncertainties characteristic of this type of problem,
variables are confirmed in exploration phase, allowing achieving results very close to the ones actually observed in
construction phase.
Key words: Thermal Analysis; Alquevas Dam; Climatic Actions; Solar Radiation; Hydration Heat; Construction Phase.

1. INTRODUCTION framework in the calendar of the year. These aspects

A proper dam temperature forecast over time requires,
to begin with, the use of proper calculation models.
Numerical models, in particular based on the finite
elements method, make the temperature distribution
and consequent structural effects possible to predict
with sufficient accuracy, whenever the adopted
discretization has enough quality to analyse every
action the structure is subjected to. Therefore, it is
essential to adopt an appropriate refinement degree of
the mesh in order to obtain representative results for
all actions.
In addition, the finite element mesh should be
designed so that its elements enhance a correct
modelling of the constructive process (regarding the
layers volume and the contraction joints separation),
and also in order to provide representativeness in time,
simulating faithfully, through mesh increases, the
interval between consecutive lifts, as well as its
are fundamental to obtain consistent results with the
reality.
An accurate model of early ages concretes behaviour
is also of high relevance in the estimation of the dams
temperature field. Early ages concrete is modelled as
a thermomechanical chemoreactive porous media. In
this way, the evolution of the hydration reaction is
formulated within the theoretical framework for
porous media and the thermodynamic problem to
solve is nonlinear in the variables temperature and
degree of hydration.
Additionally, generated temperatures by the heat of
hydration are changed by thermal action of the
environment. So, it is concluded that the climate
action modelling, characteristic of the dams location,
is also of extreme importance regarding the quality of
this analysis results. Hence, one of the focuses of this
study is the implementation of a solar radiation model.

1
2. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE
q ht (T1 T2 ) (4)
THERMAL PHENOMENON
The temperature variations of a dam are related to the
where the parameter ht is known as the total thermal
thermal environmental actions (such as air and water
transmission coefficient.
temperatures, as well as the effects of solar radiation)
and to internal heat generation of concrete during the
2.2. Internal heat generation
construction process.
Hydration of cement is a fairly complex set of
2.1. Transmission of heat laws competing chemical reactions of different kinetics and
Heat transfer occurs by conduction, convection and amplitudes [1]. It is a highly exothermic and thermally
activated reaction. Therefore, its simulation requires a
radiation.
thermochemical model.
Conduction is a heat transfer mode that takes place in
The free water present in the mixture reacts with the
stationary media as a result of a temperature gradient.
The law of heat conduction, also known as Fourier's unhydrated cement to form hydrates. The water
law, states that the time rate of heat transfer through a diffusion through the hydrates layers may be
considered as the dominant mechanism of the
material is proportional to the negative gradient in the
hydration with respect to the kinetics [1].
temperature and to the area, at right angles to that
gradient, through which the heat is flowing: According to Cervera [2], kinetics relationship can be
expressed in order to represent the normalized affinity,
Q T
A , as:
q k (1) ~
A n

where Q is the heat amount crossing the area A , and d ~ Ea

A( ) exp (5)
dt RT
q represents the heat flow in the normal direction n .
k is the materials thermal conductivity.
where represents the hydration degree, E a is the
Heat transmission by convection is associated with activation energy of the reaction, R the universal
heat exchanges within a fluid, or between the fluid and constant of perfect gases (8,314 J/(mol K)) and T the
a surface in contact. It occurs as a result of the fluid temperature.
particles movement and is governed by Newtons law,
expressing the proportionality between the amount of 2.3. Heat conduction equation
heat exchanged by convection through a surface per
The general transient governing equation for heat
unit area and time, and the temperature difference
conduction, considering thermochemical coupling
between the surface and the surrounding fluid
(heat generation thermally activated) can be expressed
expressed by (Tw Ta ) . A convection coefficient, hc ,
as follows:
is settled, so that:
T T T dm
G Lm
x x y y z z
kx ky kz
dt
q hc (Tw Ta ) (2) T
(6)
c
t
Thermal radiation is a bodys radiant energy emission
where Lm dm / dt corresponds to the thermochemical
process, whose quantity and quality depend on the
bodys temperature. It can be expressed by: coupling and represents the hydration reaction heat
generation. Lm is the latent heat, and dm / dt
q hr (T1 T2 ) (3) indicates the reaction speed.
Boundary conditions for the conduction heat equation
where hr represents the radiation coefficient, can be of two types:
considered constant in the present work.
Dirichlet conditions: T T in T (7)
Heat exchanges by convection and thermal radiation
can be grouped in a single expression:

2
 T (8) According to Mendes [3], in forced convection, the
Neumann conditions: q k C in q
n respective coefficient can be expressed as:
Boundary condition for surfaces with fixed heat flux
and with heat changes by convection and radiation can hc 3,8V (V <50m/s) (11)
be expressed as:
where V is the mean wind velocity.
T T T
kx l ky m kz n q h(T Ta ) 0 Silveira [4], shown that, for the values of T
x y z (9) observed in reality, the radiation coefficient is nearly
in q constant, and has an average value of 5,23 W/(m2K).
Time appears as a first-order term. Therefore, only
3.2. Environments conditions simulation
one initial value needs to be specified for the entire
body, that is: In the usual analysis of dams, it is common to
represent the variation of air temperature over time as
T To all over the domain at t = to (10) the superposition of a medium temperature with two
harmonic functions, one with an annual period and
another with a daily period:
3. THERMAL STATE QUANTIFICATION
2
The variables influencing the thermal behavior of T (t ' ) Tm Taa cos (t 't oa )
365 (12)
concrete dams are summarized in Table 1:

Tad (t ' ) cos 2 (t 't od )
Table 1: Concrete dams thermal behavior influencing variables
where t ' is the time, in days, since the beginning of
Concrete colocation temperature
Contraction joints spacing the year, Tm is the average annual temperature, Taa is
CONSTRUCTION Formworks type and its placement
METHOD duration the annuals wave semi-amplitude, Tad (t ' ) is the daily
CHARACTERIZATION Concreting rate
waves semi-amplitude, t oa is the annuals wave
Temperature control measures
phase, and t od is the daily waves phase.
THERMAL Thermal conductivity
CHARACTERIZATION Specific heat Similarly, the reservoirs water temperature presents
OF CONCRETE Specific mass an evolution in time with seasonal nature, with the
(Type of cement and its Absorption coefficient
Emission coefficient
particularity that the average temperature, Tm ( y) ,
dosage; Composition of
concrete) Hydration heat semi-amplitude, Ta ( y) , and phase, t0 ( y) , vary with
Latitude depth, y . In its modeling, it is simply assumed the
GEOMETRICAL AND Solar declination
existence of an annual variation, disregarding the daily
LOCATION Face azimuth
Thickness variation. In this way, the reservoirs water
CHARACTERIZATION
Face slope temperature can be expressed as:
Air temperature
2
Water temperature T ( y, t ' ) Tm ( y) Ta ( y) cos t 'to ( y) (13)
THERMAL Convection coefficient (wind 365
CHARACTERIZATION velocity)
OF THE Solar radiation The knowledge of the average wind speed on a given
ENVIRONMENT Reflection coefficient of the location is essential to determine the heat transfer
surroundings coefficient by forced convection and, consequently,
the total heat transmission coefficient between the
3.1. Environments heat transfer characterization concretes surface and the air.

In order to estimate the dams heat loss by its faces in
contact with the air, due to the effects of radiation and
convection, it is necessary to calculate the Newton's
formula coefficient for convection, and the heat loss
by radiation by the Boltzmann formula.
Information about the solar radiation, as well as
exposure conditions of the dams surfaces, are
fundamental to determine the temperature of these
surfaces, or, more specifically, their temperature
increase in relation to the airs temperature. At the

3
ground level, short wavelength solar radiation (global 4. SOLAR RADIATION LJGK1997 MODEL
radiation), I , is given by the sum of three IMPLEMENTATION
components: direct or beam radiation, diffuse
LJGK1997 model, presented in [6], is used in GIS
radiation from the atmosphere and radiation reflected
(Geographic Information System) implementations
by the ground.
[7], and it is an application of Liu and Jordans model
[8], which allows determining the different
3.3. Hydration heat quantification
components of the solar radiation (namely, the diffuse
Cervera et al. [2] normalized affinitys expression is one) on inclined plans. In addition, this model has
used: application anywhere in the world, allowing rough
estimates of the solar radiation amount, which may be
k A 0
exp
~
A( , T ) (14) improved if there is locally measured radiation values

0 k
information.
In order to estimate Cervera et al. propose the From the calculation point of view, solar radiation is a
following expression, according to which, infinite prescribed heat flux, depending not only on time but
hydration degree is related with the w/ c (water- also on the exposed surface orientation. This surfaces
cement) ratio: orientation is defined by its normal vector.

1,031 w / c 4.1. Geometrical relationships

(15)
0,194 w / c
In the equatorial system, solar declination, , is
Therefore, expression (5) results: measured on the stars hour circle from the equator to
the solar vector:

A0 n Ea (16) (0,3723 23,2567sen ( ) 0,758 cos ( )
exp
k
exp
n0 k RT 0,1149sen (2 ) 0,3656 cos (2 )
(18)

0,1712sen (3 ) 0,0201 cos (3 ))
3.4. Construction Methods 180
Dams construction methods influence the initial 2
with ( N 79,346) [9], where N is the
conditions of the structure. It is possible, with special 365,25
construction processes, to control the temperature after day of the year considering a year with 365 days.
casting.
Related factors with the construction methods Hour angle, t, is measured on the equatorial plane
affecting the temperature are: the spacing of the joints, from the observers meridian to the projection of the
the type of formwork used and the time it remains in solar vector. In the local horizontal system, solar
place, concreting cadence (that is, the thickness of the zenith angle, Z, is the angle measured from the local
concrete layers and the time interval between placing) zenith to the sun, on the stars hour circle:
and the temperature control of concrete (achieved
through the use of special cements, prior cooling of cos Z sen sen cos cos cos t (19)
material composition of the concrete, or by artificial
cooling). where is the latitude.
When the surfaces have formwork, the total heat
transmission coefficient needs to be adapted. Solar altitude angle, s , is the complement of solar
According to ETL 1110-2-542 [5] it should be zenith angle [6]. The azimuth, , is the angle defined
modified as follows: by the normals surface, counted from South, in the
clockwise movements direction. The surfaces
1
h' inclination angle, Y, is the angle between the
b 1 (17)
considered surface and the horizontal. The incidence
formwork
k ht angle, , is the angle between the direct radiation
incident on a surface and the normal to that surface:

4
 where m is the optical air mass:
cos A sen B cos t cos C sen t cos (20)

m (1229 (614sen s ) 2 ) 0.5 614sen s (26)

with
A cos Y sen senY cos cos
B cos Y cos senY sen cos (21)
C senY sen
4.2. Solar radiation calculation methods
Direct, diffuse and reflected components of radiation
respond differently to the incidence plans slope.
Therefore, a disaggregated estimate is needed.
In methods by integration, typically used in clear-sky
conditions, extra-terrestrial irradiance, H 0 , and
optical mass of the air, m , are determined based on
Sun-Earth geometry [7]. The extra-terrestrial
irradiance on a surface normal to the solar vector,
H 0n , is given by:
Diffuse radiation is considered to be isotropic and
directly proportional to the visible fraction of the
celestial hemisphere from a given point. This
proportion is given by the sky-view factor, Fsky.l .
Hence, in inclined surfaces, diffuse radiation in
clear-sky conditions is given by:
Di , sky ( H 0 n cos ) D Fsky.l (27)
where, according to Liu & Jordan [8], atmospherical
attenuation to diffuse radiation, D , is estimated by:
D 0,2710 0,2939 B (28)
LJGK1997 model uses Gates expression to determine
the sky-view factor:

H on I 0 (22) Y 1 cos Y
Fsky, l cos 2 (29)
2 2
Where is a correction factor, and I 0 is the
The hemispheres remaining fraction contributes with
empirical solar constant: I 0 =1367 W/m2 (Allen et al. reflected radiation by the ground. The reflected
1998). radiation component is sometimes neglected, since it
has a low weight in total, except in conditions of high
In the LJGK1997 method is determined by
albedo [7]. Therefore, in this work, this component is
Hofierska & Suri expression [10]:
not considered.
2
1 0,00344 cos N 0,048869 (23) 4.4. Adaptation to local real sky conditions
365,25
Solar radiation in clear sky conditions determined by
(where N varies from 1 to 365 (366)).
LJGK1997 model does not account for the elevation
of the location, nor for climate or environmental
4.3. LJGK1997 model
conditions, among others. Therefore, it is not adjusted
Solar beam radiation, incident on an inclined surface, to the real sky conditions, particulars to the effective
in clear sky conditions, Bc i , is given by: dam location.
In this work, the adaption to local real sky conditions
Bc i H 0 n B cos FB (24) was achieved through the comparison of the
LGJK1997 models results with Silveiras [4] solar
where FB is a variable which has the value 1 if the radiation values for global radiation on a horizontal
solar disk is visible and 0 if it is hidden. plane (obtained based on vora registers made in the
50s). The results are exposed on Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In
B represents the beams radiation atmospherical these figures, LJGK1997 models clear-sky results (at
attenuation. According to Kumar et al. [11] it is different days) are represented discrete and Silveiras
estimated by: real-sky values are continuous.

B 0,56(e (0.65m) e (0,095m) ) (25)

5
 1 200
5. TEMPERATURE VARIATION
1 000 CALCULATION DURING ALQUEVAS
DAM CONSTRUCTION
Ich ; Ih (Wm-2)

800
600
The aim of this work is related to the study of
400
Alquevas dam construction phase. However, given
200
the number of variables affecting the temperature of
0
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 dams under construction, it is necessary to start the
cos (Z)
analysis with the study of the exploration phase, in
Fig. 1: LJGK1997 model and Silveiras Global Radiation on a order to confirm the climate actions admitted
horizontal plane functions, as well as the materials assumed properties.
1 200
5.1. Alquevas dam characteristics
1 000
Bch ; Ih (Wm-2)

800
Alquevas dam is a double-curved arch dam. The
600
dome, with theoretical maximum height of 96,0m, and
400
200
development of 348,0m at the crest and 124,0m on the
0
valley floor, has a thickness of 33,5m at the base and
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 7,0m at the top. It consists of 24 blocks, generally with
cos (Z)
14,5m, limited by vertical joints.
Fig. 2: LJGK1997 models Beam and Silveiras Global Radiation
on a horizontal plane 5.2. Materials thermal characteristics
Analysing this information one can observe that, for a
horizontal surface, the direct solar radiation portion In Table 2 thermal models properties are described.
determined by LJGK1997 model adequately simulates Table 2: Thermal models properties.
real sky conditions characteristic of the actual dams
location. Thus, in this work, this model was adapted to Property Unit Value

Alqueva by not incorporating the diffuse component FOUNDATION

of the solar radiation. It is important to mention that Specific heat, c [J/(kg K)] 879
this adjustment is clearly justified on horizontal plane. Thermal conductivity, k [W/(m K)] 4,6
However, bearing in mind that the different radiation Specific mass, [kg/m3] 2600
components respond differently to the dams slope, Absorption coefficient, a [-] 0
these conclusions would have to be corroborated with CONCRETE
solar radiation on inclined plane data. Specific heat, c [J/(kg K)] 920

The LJGK1997 model estimated solar radiation flux, Thermal conductivity, k [W/(m K)] 2,62
Specific mass,
3
adapted to real and local conditions (by the exclusive [kg/m ] 2400
use of the direct component, Bc i ), is considered in the Absorption coefficient, a [-] 0,65
2
static boundary conditions expressed by eq. (2.40) Total heat transmission coefficient, ht [W/(m K)] 20,20
directly in the term q . Formwork surfaces transm. coef., h [W/(m2K)] 2,02

After the LJGK1997 models implementation, it is Hydration degree at t , [-] 0,74

possible to realize that, only with the introduction of Activation energy, Ea / R [K] 4000
the dams latitude, it is conceivable, for any part of the
~
planet, to have a very reasonable estimation of the Normalized chemical affinity A( ) (see section 5.5):
solar radiation, which can be improved whenever local k
registers of solar radiation are available. Therefore, [1/s] 555,1360
0
this model is considered to be a very useful tool in the
climate actions affecting dams modelling. A0
[-] 0,0015
k
[-] 5,4749
Latent heat, L [J/m3] 6,289.107

6
 g e H (38)
In the total heat transmission coefficient ( y) d f ey (39)
determination, the convection coefficient is estimated
using expression (11), for a mean wind velocity in where Tms is the average annual temperature in the
Alqueva of 4,0m/s.
reservoirs surface, Tas is the reservoir surface
temperatures wave semi-amplitude, Tmb is the average
annual temperature in the reservoirs bottom, H is the
5.3. Environment thermal actions simulation reservoirs deep, t oar is the air temperatures wave
Following expression (12) it is possible to write the air phase, ( y) is the phase difference of the water
temperatures function as: temperature relative to the air temperature and , , ,
d and f are constants.

T (t ' ) T1 (t ' ) Tad (t ' ) cos 2 (t 't od ) (30)
Alquevas reservoir water parameters are described in
Table 3.
where:
Table 3: Alquevas reservoir water parameters
2 2
T1 (t ' ) Tm a cos t ' b sen t' (31)
365 365 Parameter Unit Value

Taking into account the records of the daily maximum Tms [C] 19,95
and minimum temperature of the air, to Alquevas
Tas [C] 7,55
dam location, the following results can be obtained:
Tm =17,49C; a =-7,43C; b =-3,34C. Tmb [C] 11,49

[-] 0,0632
The annuals variation of the daily waves amplitude
is represented by: [-] 0,0434

[-] 0,0609
2
2Tad (t ' ) A(t ' ) Am Aaa cos (t ' oa ) (32) d [months] 3,313
365
where Am , Aaa and oa represent, respectively, the f [months] 2,00

annual average amplitude, the semi-amplitude of the

amplitudes annual wave and the annual wave The radiation action implemented in this work is in
amplitudes phase. By doing: accordance with the LJGK1997 model previously
described. Solar radiation estimation requires the
2 2 knowledge of the dams latitude and orientation.
A(t ' ) Am a cos t ' b sen t' (33) Alquevas dam has a 3811 latitude and its axis has an
365 365
it is obtained, to Alquevas dam location, azimuth of 150.
Am =10,48C; a =-3,99C; b =-0,82C.
5.4. Thermal environment actions validation in
exploration phase
In what the water temperature is concerned, in order to
achieve the greatest possible representation of the In exploration phase the initial temperature field is
hydrological regime, every thermometers belonging to estimated assuming an initial temperature, applying
the upstream faces records were used. Zhus formulas boundary conditions, and performing the time
[12] were used to estimate the evolution of the (13)s integration until stationary (cyclic) behavior is
expression parameters with the depth of the reservoir: achieved.

Boundary conditions used in exploration phase were:

Tm ( y) c (Tms c)e y (34)
upstream surfaces submersed (Fig. 3); bottom nodes
Ta ( y) Tas e y (35)
of the foundation with a prescribed temperature of
t o ( y) t oar ( y) (36) 15C (Fig. 4); downstream and top faces of the dam
c (Tmb g Tms ) /(1 g ) (37) subjected to the solar radiations flux (Fig. 5); every

7
 Calculated
valores values
calculados
exposed surfaces subjected to convection and T(C)
Registered values
50 valores observados
radiation heat exchanges (Fig. 6); lateral borders of the T Average
mdia arairs temperature
40
model are considered to be adiabatic boundaries.
30

20

10

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

50

40

30
Fig. 3 upstream submersed
Fig. 4 bottom of foundation 20
surfaces
10

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

50

40

30

20

Fig. 5 solar radiations flux Fig. 6 convection and radiation 10

exposed to surfaces heat exchanges exposed to surfaces
Several finite element model meshes were tested, with
increasing degree of refinement, in order to ensure the
models ability to represent the effect of the daily
wave airs temperature. A model with 5 elements
differently spaced in thickness revealed to be suitable
(Fig. 7).
Fig. 7 Exploration phase discretization.
In Fig. 8, the results of the exploration phase calculus
(using PAT_2 program [13]) are shown, for 3
particular nodes near the top of the dam, contrasted
with the instruments placed in the same sections
registers. Analyzing the results it is observed that, due
to the used scale, the effect of the airs temperature
daily wave is reflected as an increase of the thickness
of the annual wave. It is evident this amplitudes
decrease as the distance to the exposed face increases.
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
days since the beginning of the year
Fig. 8 Exploration phase temperatures near the top of the dam
(z=141,0m), downstream, middle and upstream, respectively
5.5. Construction phase modelling
According to Ulm and Coussys model [1], early ages
concrete is modeled as a thermomechanical
chemoreactive porous media.
The problem to solve is nonlinear in temperature and
hydration degree (the determination of the
temperature, as well as the hydration degree, depend
on the variables themselves). Furthermore, the
temperature field generated by the hydration heat is
changed by the thermal action coming from the
environment where the dam is located.
The cement used in the composition of Alquevas dam
concrete is type IV and class 32,5, according to ASTM
classification.
Analyzing [14] it is possible to understand that, for the
main composition of Alquevas dam concrete, the
average quantity of cement is 160,0kg/m3, and the
water-cement average relationship is 0,49.
Based on the results shown in [15], and considering
the composition of 160,0kg/m3 of cement, it is
possible to determine the values presented in Table 4:

8
 Table 4: Alquevas concrete hydration heat. Assuming an initial temperature of 20C, the
ad
expression (42) T =41,07C is obtained. It is then
t (days) Q (cal/g) Q (kJ/kg)
possible to calculate the concretes temperature in the
0 0,00 0,00
experiment as well as its rate T ad .
3 3,85 16,12
According to Cervera, the normalized affinity can be
7 4,31 18,05
expressed as:
28 4,63 19,39
T ad E (46)
A ad
~
exp aad
T T0 RT
Expression (15) allows calculating the final degree of
With this information it is conceivable, through the
hydration with the average properties of Alquevas
analytical expression in Cerveras model for this
concrete composition. Therefore:
function (expression (14)), to calibrate the properties
1,031 0,49284 (40) of the material which fully characterize the chemical
0,74
0,194 0,49284 behavior of the concrete mixture. It is obtained:

Using the exponential curve suggested in [16] to k A0

=555,14s-1; =0,0015; =5,475
represent the accumulated generated heat, Q , it is 0 k
obtained to Alquevas dam concrete:
L Q 26,2 1000 2400 6,29E 7 J/m3 (47)
12,8.
1 (41)
Q 19,386 e t
For the dam, in construction phase, a finite element
mesh developed in LNEC is used. This mesh has
The constant Q represents the final amount of
layers of 2,0 to 3,0m height, and every block of the
liberated heat in ideal conditions. According to dam is divided in 2 in development. The mesh has 4
Cervera [2]: elements equally spaced in thickness (Fig. 9).

T
C (42) According to section 5.4, the grid should be more
Q
ad
T0 refined near the exposed faces. However, the current

mesh is already computationally demanding, so it was
where C is the specific heat of the material (920 chosen to maintain the mentioned grid. The results of
J/(kgk)), T0 is the initial temperature of the adiabatic the exposed faces will have to be analyzed in the light
ad of this information. The difference in the obtained
experiment and T is the final reached temperature.
temperature field of the exposed faces, using both
The amount of released heat is given by: mentioned meshes, subjected to the exploration phase
Q Q (43) actions, is presented in Fig. 10 .
The foundation is discretized in conformance with the
From the previous relationship it is obtained:
grid of the dam in a model with 18 857 elements and
Q Q 19,386 (44) 90 434 nodes (Fig. 11).
Q Q 26,2
0,74
A program was developed, in order to build the data
Cervera relates the hydration degree to the archive to be read by the program PATQ_2 [17]. The
temperature rise in the adiabatic experiment in the designed program considers the evolution of the mesh
form: in every concreting or stripping phase, updating the
exposed faces (in blue in Fig. 12) as well as the faces
T ad (45)
ad with formwork (in green), and its correspondent total
T T ad heat transmission coefficient. A typical output of this
program is the top figure of Fig. 12, which is
ad
where T is the measured temperature of concrete contrasted with a photo taken during the construction
along the experiment. of the dam. In red, assumed adiabatic faces are
represented.

9
 In what the initial thermal field is concerned, for the
dam, it was considered that the concretes colocation
temperature is equal to the airs temperature, except in
the cases where it doesnt satisfy the 27.2 article of
[18]. Regarding the foundation, the initial temperature
field is calculated using PATQ_2 program and
considering the existence of only one phase, in which
Fig. 9 Construction phase discretization - detail.
every foundation belonging elements are placed,
during a calculus period of time long enough for the
T(C) valores calculados-malha
Exploration fase definitiva
phase mesh (Fig. 7)
valores calculados-malha
Construction phase meshfase
(Fig.construtiva
9) thermal field to achieve the stationary behavior (10
40
years).
30

20 5.6. Results
10
In the interpretation of the following results it has to
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 be noticed that, in 2001, artificial cooling process was
days since the beginning of the year
carried on, and this action modelling wasnt
Fig. 10 Exploration phase temperatures near the top of the dam considered in the present study. In Fig. 13 to Fig. 17,
(z=141,0m) - downstream. registered temperature is represented in dots, as the
calculated temperature is represented in a continuous
line.

Typical results achieved near the base of the dam are

Fig. 11 Construction phase discretization general view.
Fig. 12 Construction process simulation.
shown in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. It is possible to observe
that, when the next layer is laid, there is a decrease in
temperature, due to the lower temperature of the
newly placed layer, followed by an increase due to the
heat generation originated in this second layer. The
same applies, but lighter, when the remaining layers
are placed. The studied instruments are within a layer
located near the base of the foundation (where the dam
is very thick). This location is revealed by the results,
as these nodes are indifferent to the annuals air
temperature wave effect. In Fig. 13 it is appreciable
the difference in the assumption of the concretes
temperature (5C) effect. In Fig. 14 it is visible the
different adopted discretization in relation to the real
construction process effect. In this location, for the
layers placed in February 99, the finite elements mesh
aggregates 3 concreting layers in a single element.
Therefore, the date when the layers are placed will
happen, in the model, later than in reality.
Consequently, they spend more time cooling than
what really has happened.
Characteristic results achieved in the middle height of
the dam, at half thickness, are shown in Fig. 15.
Regarding the studied instrument it should be noted
that the placement of the layer incorporating the quota
of the instrument occurred on 22-07-99 and the next
layer was placed, in reality, on 09-08-99. However,
according to the models discretization, it occurred

10
only on 23-08-99. Therefore, the fact that the layer has T(C)
been exposed longer in the model than in reality, in
40
the summer, caused a higher temperature reached by
the nodes than the registered one. 20

Typical results achieved in the top of the dam, at half 0

22-07-99 30-10-99 07-02-00 17-05-00 25-08-00 03-12-00 13-03-01 21-06-01
thickness, are shown in Fig. 16 and Fig. 17. The
presented curves (both the calculated and the Fig. 15 Middle height dams results T19.
registered one) reflect the position in height of the T(C)
studied nodes. In internal nodes near the dams crest
40
(where its thickness is smaller) the cooling is faster
than in lower sections, once exposed faced are closer 20

to the referred nodes, as well as since the heat is 0

dissipated more easily by the exposed surfaces than by 06-11-01 25-05-02 11-12-02 29-06-03 15-01-04

the foundation. Thus, the cooling curve has a slope Fig. 16 Dams crest results T49.
greater than lower level located sections do. It is also
T(C)
evident that, for this dams thickness, temperatures
seasonal variations are experimented by internal 40

nodes, while, at the bottom of the dam, internal nodes 20

are not affected by these oscillations. In early 2002,
when the curves corresponding to the observed
temperature decrease significantly relative to the
calculated temperature, it is understood that artificial
cooling has occurred in these quotas. This effect tends
to fade over time (as a result of the proximity to the
exposed faces), and the curves meet again, although
artificial cooling has not been modeled. In Fig. 16, the
initial difference is thought to be related to the
concretes colocation temperature, although there is no
available information to validate this assumption. In
what Fig. 17 is concerned, the quantity of cement is
identical in the model and in reality. It is inferred that
all other factors (concreting rate, placement
temperature, etc.) have been modeled similarly to
what happened in reality leading to an answer so
similar to what actually occurred.
T(C)
40
20
0 considering it as simply adiabatic, since both curves
13-08-01 02-10-01 21-11-01 10-01-02 01-03-02
Fig. 13 Near the dams base results G27.
T(C)
40
20
0
05-07-00 21-01-01 09-08-01 25-02-02 13-09-02 01-04-03 18-10-03
Fig. 17 Dams crest results T59.
5.7. Foundation influence
Regarding the effect of the foundation, it is known
that the modelation of the foundation, in relation to its
consideration as an adiabatic boundary, has effect in
the base nodes, since in the first case the heat flow can
be dissipated to the foundation. Thus, for a node in the
dams base, in a central section, calculated
temperatures in models with and without foundation
are represented, respectively, in blue and black in Fig.
18. Shown results support the mentioned above. It is
also found that this effect isnt propagated in height:
by analyzing the mentioned models (with and without
considering the foundation), at the base instruments
height (approximately distanced 20,0m from the base),
reported in Fig. 19, it is clear that there is no
difference between modeling the foundation or
20-04-02
are coincident. It is concluded that, in these sections,
the heat is dissipated by the exposed surfaces and not
by the foundation.
T(C)
40

20
0
06-01-99 25-07-99 10-02-00 28-08-00 16-03-01
0
16-07-98 01-02-99 20-08-99 07-03-00 23-09-00 11-04-01
Fig. 14 Near the dams base results G08.
Fig. 18 Consideration of the foundation in the dams base nodes.

11
T(C)
40
20
0
10-07-99 26-01-00 13-08-00 01-03-01
Fig. 19 Consideration of the foundation near the dams base
nodes (approximately 20,0m - G05).
6. CONCLUSIONS
The thermal behavior study of dams is essential since
it allows reflecting on the progress of construction
processes, as well as on the different structural types
of concrete dams to adopt, in order to limit the
temperature and to moderate retraction effects
associated with the curing process and hardening of
concrete. Therefore, it is an important tool in the
assessment of the safety of the dams.
In order to plan efficiently the dams temperature
control measures, it is essential that this reflection is
based on reasonable estimations of the dams
temperature. After completing this study one came to
the understanding that it is possible, by using the
PATQ_2 [17] calculation program, to get very credible
estimates of the dams temperature during its
construction, as long as the most relevant factors are
well reproduced.
First of all, and starting with the obvious, it is
necessary to model the climatic action characteristic of
the dams location, as well as the materials properties.
Regarding the concrete, it is extremely important to
know its composition, as well as the type of cement
and its dosage, in order to represent the hydration
curve. It is also important to know the type of used
formwork and also the time it remains placed.
In what the finite elements mesh are concerned, it was
noticed that it is essential that its discretization is
adapted to the lift height, as well as to the spacing of
contraction joints, in order to provide the model the
flexibility to simulate the effective constructive
process. If the mesh is not adequately refined, and
combine multiple lifts in only one element, real
boundary conditions will not be well reproduced,
interfering with the hydration heat dissipation, with
repercussions on the elements temperature. Therefore,
it is essential that the finite element mesh has an
adapted discretization to the constructive phasing, not
only in the elements geometry, but also on its updating
over time (existing elements and exposure conditions,
12
for each phase of concreting or striking), allowing to
represent the real rhythm of casting.
Also regarding the model, it is necessary to refine the
mesh near the exposed faces, in order to be able to
precisely represent the daily wave airs temperature.
The concretes placement temperature is also relevant
in the calculation of the concretes temperature rise.
The effect associated to this initial condition tends to
decrease over time, with intensity depending on the
layers exposure conditions. This observation confirms
the limited efficiency of the constituent concrete
materials pre-cooling as a technique of temperature
control.
It was found that the modeling of the foundation or its
consideration as an adiabatic boundary only affects the
dams base nodes temperature.
The combination of the correct simulation of all these
factors, as noted, allows obtaining very credible
estimates of concretes temperature variations during
construction. Thus, it is possible to rehearse, in the
design stage, different rates of concreting, joint
spacing, materials, or even the use of artificial
refrigeration cooling, in order to adopt, in a
knowledgeable manner, the most efficient and
economic construction process at the level of the
concretes temperature control.
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1] F.-J. Ulm and O. Coussy, Modeling of
thermochemomechanical couplings of concrete at
early ages, Journal of Engineering Mechanics,
vol. 121(7), pp. 785-794, July 1995.
[2] M. Cervera, J. Oliver and T. Prato, Thermo-
Chemo-Mechanical Model for Concrete. I:
Hydration and Aging, Journal of Engineering
Mechanics, vol. 125(9), pp. 1018-1027,
September 1999.
[3] P. Mendes, "Aco Trmica Diferencial em
Pontes de Beto", Msc Thesis, IST, 1989.
[4] A. Silveira, "As variaes de temperatura nas
barragens". Tese de Especialista LNEC. Memria
n177, LNEC, 1961.