Design of a revisited TSTM system for testing concrete since setting time under free and restraint conditions

Author(s): S. Staquet, B. Delsaute, A. Darquennes and B. Espion
Paper category: conference
Book title: Crack Control of Mass Concrete and Related Issues concerning Early-Age of Concrete Structures
Editor(s): F. Toutlemonde and J.-M. Torrenti
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-125-4
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-126-1
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2012
Pages: 99 - 110
Total Pages: 12
Language: English

Abstract: Constructions concreted in several phases and submitted to restrained deformation are characterized by a risk of early age cracking. A new experimental concrete testing concept has been designed since the 1990’s: the Temperature Stress Testing Machine (TSTM). Several parameters can be recorded such as the cracking age, the stiffness development and the stress relaxation. During the last two decades less than a dozen laboratories worldwide have developed or acquired this kind of experimental equipment. All devices bear some similarities but major differences remain in the test set up designs and also in the testing processes. The paper will summarize our analysis of the development of the TSTM’s and their shortcomings. This analysis allowed us to develop our own testing system and experimental procedure to study the sensitivity to cracking of concretes and others related applications such as the Young’s modulus evolution of concrete since setting.

Online publication: 2012-07-20
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00