Next: Summary and Conclusions Up: Main Previous: Equivalent age
While the above results show that te averaged over the slab thickness can vary widely depending on ambient conditions, te can also vary with depth within the slab under given conditions (Fig. 4). The vertical profiles in Fig. 4 are for points indicated by "D", "E", and "F" in Figs. 2c and 3c. In general, the equivalent ages decrease with distance above the form and are maximum near the bottom of the slab where concrete temperatures are maximum. For the Ta and RH sensitivity simulations reported here, te varies by up to 15 h from bottom to top. Because up to 85 % of the heat transfer occurs at the top surface of bridge decks (6), lowest temperatures, and largest temperature and te gradients occur near the top surface.
Fig. 4. a) Vertical concrete temperature profiles for the scenarios indicated in Fig. 2c by "D", "E", and "F". Z gives the distance above the form. b) Vertical profiles of equivalent ages for the scenarios indicated in Fig. 3c by "D", "E", and "F".
Next: Summary and Conclusions Up: Main Previous: Equivalent age