TI-B 101 (94)

Test Method
Expansion Coefficient of Concrete

Danish Technological Institute

Building Technology
 TI-B 101 (94)

Test Method
Expansion Coefficient of Concrete

Descriptors:

Concrete, Thermal Expansion Coefficient

Version: 1
Date: March 1994
No. of pages: 5
Approved by: SOO

2
 TI-B 101 (94)

The change in length, caused by the

Test Method change in temperature in the range of
Concrete 5°C to 30°C, is compared to the length l0
at 20°C at the beginning of the test.
Thermal Expansion The test specimens are exposed to
Coefficient changes in temperature in the range of
5°C to 30°C. See Figure 1.

The temperatures are obtained by

0. Foreword storing the sealed test specimens in a
This TI-B method replaces DTI-method water bath with a constant temperature (
"Test method for Thermal Expansion 1°C).
Coefficient of concrete".
The length between the measuring
1. Background and Scope points on each test specimen is
measured when the test specimen is in
This TI-B method describes a method for
the determination of the thermal thermal balance, i.e. the difference
expansion coefficient of concrete in the between the temperature in the middle of
temperature range of 5°C to 30°C on the test specimen and the temperature
sealed test specimens. The test of the water is less than  1°C. The seal
specimens are exposed to change in on each test specimen is shortly
temperatures in the specified removed during the measurement.
temperature range. For each change in
temperature the longitudinal deformation The lengths l0, l1 and l2 between the
(expansion) is measured. measuring points are measured at 20°C
at the beginning, in the middle and at the
end of the test procedure.
2. References
NT BUILD 367
Concrete, repair materials: Coefficient of
Thermal Expansion

3. Definitions Figure 1: Changes in temperature and

Thermal expansion: change in length length measurements on the test
due to thermal variations. specimens

Thermal expansion coefficient: 5. Equipment

A measuring device for measuring the
α = Δε/ΔΤ
length changes with a strain accuracy of
α = thermal expansion -6
-1 minimum 10 · 10 [mm/mm]. See
coefficient [°C ]
example in annex.
Δε = strain [m/m]
ΔΤ = change in temperature [°C]
Thermocouples for measuring the
temperature in the middle of at least 1/3
of all test specimens and in the water
4. Test Method baths with an accuracy of  1°C.
This test method determines the thermal
expansion coefficient of concrete. The Three water baths with a water
thermal expansion is measured on temperature of 5°C, 20°C and 30°C.
concrete specimens at three different
temperatures. The measured thermal 6. Test Specimens
expansion coefficient is corrected with
A set of test specimens consists of at
regard to the temperature sensitivity of
least three concrete prisms of
the measuring device and with regard to
100x100x400 mm. The prisms are
the shrinkage of the concrete.
sealed in a heavy plastic bag and stored
in a water bath at 20°C until testing.

3
 TI-B 101 (94)

7. Procedure
6 The test specimens are sealed in
The concrete prisms are cast as
the plastic bag and placed in the
described in DS 423.21 for cubes.
water bath at 30°C.
The forms are removed and possible
7 When a test specimen is in thermal
surface defects are reported.
balance at 30°C ( 1°C), it is
removed from the water bath and
After removing the forms each test
the plastic bag and isolated until
specimen is given a number and the
measuring. A measurement is
measuring points are placed according
carried out.
to the test method, see annex.
8 The test specimens are sealed in
The test specimens are sealed in a
the plastic bag and placed in the
heavy plastic bag and stored in a water
water bath at 20°C.
bath at 20°C.
9 When a test specimen is in thermal
A measurement is carried out as follows:
balance at 20°C ( 1°C), it is
removed from the water bath and
- Report starting hour
the plastic bag and isolated until
- Measure the temperature in the
measuring. A measurement is
water bath and the test specimens
carried out.
- Measure the length between the
measuring points. This procedure is
After this procedure the test specimens
repeated for all test specimens
are sealed in the plastic bag and stored
- Measure the temperature in the test
at 20°C, if the measurement has to be
specimens
repeated at another term.
- Report ending hour.

During the test the change in

temperature and the measurements are 8. Test Result
carried out according to the following The measured lengths are corrected with
items: regard to the temperature sensitivity of
the measuring device and with regard to
1 The test specimens are removed the shrinkage of the concrete. The
from the water bath and the plastic corrections are made on the following
bag and isolated until measuring. A conditions:
measurement is carried out.
- A difference in the measured
2 The test specimens are sealed in lengths at 20°C are due to
the plastic bag and placed in the shrinkage in the concrete. The
water bath at 5°C. shrinkage is assumed to take place
linearly in time.
3 When a test specimen is in thermal
balance at 5°C ( 1°C) it is removed The corrected change in length between
from the water bath and the plastic the measurements lH (30°C) and lL (5°C)
bag and isolated until measuring. A is used to calculate the thermal
measurement is carried out. expansion coefficient. The thermal
expansion coefficient is calculated
1)
4 The test specimens are sealed in according to the following formula:
the plastic bag and placed in the
water bath at 20°C.
∆l
1) α=
5 When a test specimen is in thermal l 0 • ∆T
balance at 20°C ( 1°C), it is
removed from the water bath and
α = thermal expansion
the plastic bag and isolated until coefficient [1/°C]
1) measuring. A measurement is Δl = corrected change in length [m]
Items 4 and 5 may be omitted in case of late terms
carried out.

4
 TI-B 101 (94)

l0 = actual measured length at

20°C at the beginning of the Example of a measuring device: DEMEC
test [m] measuring device type MAYERS, model
ΔT = temperature difference at the MD with a measuring length of 200 mm
measured lengths [°C]. and an accuracy of 0.002 mm.

The test results are reported as average

and standard deviation.

9. Calibration
The measuring device must be in
calibration at the time of testing and
must be calibrated according to the
instructions for this type of device.

10. Data Accuracy

Repeatability: if normal care and
accuracy are shown, it can be expected
that the test can be repeated with a 95 %
confidence range for an average value of Figure 2 DEMEC: measuring points and
-5
approximately  0.03 · 10 . dimensions of the test specimens.

Reproducibility: if normal care and 12. Annex

accuracy are
shown, it can be expected that the test Example of a measuring device:
can be repeated with a 95 % confidence SYLVAC measuring device model 100
range for an average value of with a measuring length of 400 mm and
-5
approximately  0.05 · 10 . an accuracy of 0.001 mm.

11. Test Report

A test report shall include at least the
following information:

a) Name and address of testing

laboratory.
b) Date and identification of the report.
c) Name and address of the client.
d) Test method (No. and title).
e) Deviations from the test method, if
any.
f) Identification of the concrete:
Date of receipt of test
specimens/selections.
Description of test Figure 3 SYLVAC: measuring points and
specimens/selections. dimensions of the test specimens.
Marking of test specimens e.g. mix
design, casting specification etc.
g) Date of test period.
h) Records of surface defects.
i) Measuring equipment.
j) Test result.
k) Further information of significance
for the evaluation of the result.
l) Evaluation of the result, if included
in the assignment.
m) Signature.