Heat of hydration

When concrete is curing and hardening, the hydration reaction of cement develops a large amount of heat with an increase in temperature. If the rising temperature is not properly dissipated, it can result in tensile stresses inside the concrete structure leading to the appearance of cracks therefore weakening its mechanical properties. This effect is encountered particularly in massive concrete castings, due to the limited heat dispersion, leading the behavior closer to adiabatic conditions.