Abstract
The wall in a subway structure is easily subject to crack occurrence since its expansion and shrinkage associated with hydration heat reaction is constrained by the slab. The greater problem is that the crack in the wall may be developed to pass through thickness and eventually deteriorate the structure due to rusting of reinforced steel. Thus, this study aims at controlling thermal cracks as much as possible and determining an optimized size of concrete placement through hydration heat analysis. For this study, effects of placement height, length, temperature and types of cement on the thermal cracks were evaluated by temperature rise, thermal stress and crack index. As results of parametric study, it was found that placement height and length do not have an effect on the temperature rise but have significant one on thermal stress which relates to direct possibility of thermal crack occurrence. This means that proper selection of size balancing internal constraint with external one is much more important than reducing the placement height and length simply. In order to prevent from thermal cracks most effectively, in addition, it was noted to reduce placement temperature and to use the cement blended with mineral admixture.
