ABSTRACT
Practical experience proves, however, that these temperature-related criteria are often only a crude method of assessing the cracking risk. Even if temperature requirements are met, systematic thermal cracking of the young concrete may occur, see e.g. Dierks (1982). In other cases, only few thermal cracks are observed even though specified temperature differences are not met by far, see e.g. Hampe (1944). To find out the reasons for this, a closer look has to be taken at the prerequisites of temperature related criteria. This paper emphasizes that the magnitude of tolerable temperature differences depends very much on the temperature development which occurs at a very early age of hydration, in particular during the first day.
