An Overview of Smart Materials and Technologies for Concrete Construction in Cold Weather

Abstract

Cold weather conditions pose significant challenges to the performance and durability of concrete materials, construction processes, and structures. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the material-related challenges in cold weather concrete construction, including slow setting, reduced curing rate, and slower strength development, as well as frost damage, early freezing, and freeze–thaw actions. Various innovative materials and technologies may be implemented to address these challenges, such as optimizing the concrete mix proportions, chemical admixtures, supplementary cementitious materials, and advanced construction techniques. The paper also examines the impact of weather-related challenges for personnel, equipment, and machinery in cold environments and highlights the importance of effective planning, communication, and management strategies. Results indicate that the successful implementation of appropriate strategies can mitigate the challenges, reduce construction time, and enhance the performance, durability, and sustainability of concrete structures in cold and freezing temperatures. The paper emphasizes the importance of staying updated about the latest advancements and best practices in the field. Future trends include the development of smart and functional concrete materials, advanced manufacturing and construction techniques, integrated design, and optimization of tools, all with a strong focus on sustainability and resilience.

Formwork Engineering for Sustainable Concrete Construction

“…Premature form stripping can lead to surface damage, such as chipping or spalling, and structural defects, such as cracking or deformation [100]. Thermal shocking and early freezing are two additional phenomena that can occur if the form is stripped prematurely in cold weather [19,101]. A compressive strength of 5 MPa is usually recommended to avoid severe problems due to the early freezing of concrete [102].…”

“…The use of alternative binders in concrete mixtures is becoming more common as the construction industry seeks to reduce its environmental footprint and improve the properties of concrete [16][17][18][19][20][21]. The cement industry accounts for about 7-8% of the global CO 2 emissions and there is an urgent need to find more sustainable alternatives for material production as well as construction procedures [22].…”

Freeze–Thaw Damage Characteristics of Concrete Based on Compressive Mechanical Properties and Acoustic Parameters

“…Nevertheless, concrete is also subject to freeze–thaw damage, which can significantly reduce its mechanical properties and lead to premature failure [ 5 ]. Concrete construction in cold climates presents several other material-related challenges such as slower strength development, the risk of early freezing, and thermal stresses due to internal temperature differences [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Therefore, understanding the freeze–thaw damage characteristics of concrete is crucial for ensuring its performance and durability.…”

Prioritization of the Requirements Formulated in the European Standard EN 206 in Assessment of Concrete Quality - Multicriteria Analysis Using the AHP Method

“…The quality of water used in the concrete mix is equally important [1], and its purity can affect the durability and strength of concrete [20,35,36]. Additives, on the other hand, can significantly modify the properties of concrete, including its viscosity, setting time and strength [24,34,50]. The water/cement or water/binder ratio is a key determinant of concrete strength [4,24,30].…”