Finite element simulation and analysis of hydration heat in large-volume pile caps

Abstract

To reveal influences of hydration heat in large-volume concrete, a large-volume concrete pile cap of a main bridge over a canal was taken as the engineering background. In the research, the finite element software, Madis civil, was used for simulation and analysis of hydration heat in the pile cap. Through finite element simulation, the temperature and stress fields were obtained and compared with the monitored data. Analysis results indicate that in the initial pouring stage of the pile cap, a large temperature difference occurs between the interior and surface of the pile cap; as the temperature difference enlarges, the temperature stress of the pile cap also increases correspondingly. The results of finite element analysis match well with the monitored data, which guarantees the construction quality in the field and verifies feasibility of the finite element software in simulation and analysis of hydration heat.