Uso da termografia para avaliação da temperatura superficial do concreto

Abstract

Non-destructible tests, such as thermography, are important for analyzing and determining the characteristics of concrete structural elements, during the initial manufacturing phase or in existing structures that require some inspection. The surface temperature of concrete can be influenced by the heat of hydration and by climatic factors. The temperature when very high can accelerate the evaporation of water that can cause the appearance of pathological manifestations. Monitoring the surface temperature during the concrete hardening process can help in the curing procedure of the structural element in order to avoid the appearance of cracks. Thus, the objective of this work was to carry out a study on the surface temperature variation of concrete during the hardening process, with the aid of a thermographic camera. The tests were carried out in the laboratory and in the field, they consisted in the manufacture of prototypes and analysis of a newly concreted slab, respectively. The analyzes were based on understanding the test parameters such as the influences of the heat of hydration and climatic factors on the surface temperature of the concrete, in addition to analyzing the sensitivity and limitations of the procedure and the equipment used. The results indicated that the use of the thermal camera to evaluate cementitious materials is feasible in terms of temperature reading, the hermograms were not possible to be used due to the camera's self-calibration of colors. It was found that the main factor that impacts the surface temperature of concrete is the ambient temperature.