Since concrete bridge deck slabs are much longer in the traffic direction, they experience transverse early-age cracks due to volumetric instability and restraint. In the last decade, the lower cost of the non-corrodible Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars, as alternative to steel reinforcement, has made them attractive to the bridge construction industry. However, low modulus of GFRP bars may lead to wider cracks in GFRP-RC structures. This serviceability issue can be aggravated by harsh environmental conditions. Hence, the main objective of this thesis is to investigate the effect of early-age cracking in restraint bridge deck slabs reinforced with GFRP bars subjected to different environments. This research consists of two phases: an experimental investigation and a numerical study. In the experimental phase, four full-scale cast-in-place slabs reinforced with different longitudinal GFRP reinforcement ratios (0.30, 0.50, 0.70 and 1.1%) and one with steel reinforcement ratio of 0.7% measuring 2500 mm long × 765 mm wide × 180 mm thick were constructed and tested in the laboratory. Three environmental conditions were implemented; normal (laboratory) adiabatic conditions as well as freezing-thawing and wetting-drying cycles. The main test results are presented in terms of cracking pattern, width and spacing, and strains in the reinforcement and concrete. Test results indicated that the minimum reinforcement ratio (0.7%) recommended by CHBDC for bridge deck slabs reinforced with GFRP bars satisfied the serviceability requirements after being subjected to the simulated exposures of normal laboratory conditions, freezing-thawing, and wetting-drying cycles. In the numerical phase of this research, a finite element model (FEM) was constructed using ATENA software package (ver. 5) to simulate the behaviour of the test specimens. According to the FEM results, a reinforcement ratio of 0.45% Carbon FRP (CFRP) can control the early-age crack width and reinforcement strain in CFRP-RC members subjected to restrained shrinkage. Also, the results indicated that changing the bar surface texture (sand-coated and ribbed bars) or concrete cover had an insignificant effect on the early-age crack behavior of FRP-RC bridge deck slabs subjected to shrinkage. However, reducing bar spacing and concrete strength resulted in a decrease in crack width and reinforcement strain. / October 2015

Early plastic shrinkage cracking of concrete is an important factor affecting the durability of modern concrete structures. Early cracking (within 24 hours after pouring) may become a problem for any concrete structure. It will promote the entry of harmful materials, destroy the beauty of concrete members, and reduce their durability and performance. In addition, due to long-term shrinkage and/or load, these cracks may gradually expand in the service life of components. Scientific research and engineering technicians often have to face the difficulties caused by early plastic shrinkage cracking of concrete. From the aspects of shrinkage mechanism, measurement method, prediction model and strength development, this paper reviews the scientific and technological status of plastic shrinkage and strength development of early-age concrete, and based on this, summarizes the important conclusions in existing research and establishes the relevant concrete strength prediction model.:1 Introduction 2. Shrinkage in concrete 2.1 Classification and mechanism of concrete shrinkage 2.2 Main factors causing concrete shrinkage 2.3 Concluding remarks 3. Plastic shrinkage in early age concrete 3.1 Method for determining the time of initial and final setting 3.2 Mechanism of plastic shrinkage 3.3 Evaporation 3.4 Capillary pressure 3.5 Main factors affecting plastic shrinkage cracking 3.6 Concluding remarks 4. Different methods for determining the resistance to plastic shrinkage cracking 4.1 Rectangular mould test setup 4.2 ASTM C 1579 4.3 Ring test method (NT BUILD 433) 4.4 Capillary pressure test 5. Development of early age strength of concrete 5.1 Mechanical properties 5.1.1 Compressive strength 5.1.2 Tensile strength 5.1.3 Early-age shrinkage of concrete 5.2 Test and prediction model evaluation 6. Test and quantitative model 6.1 pullout tests on early-age concrete 6.1.1 Tests principle 6.1.2 test result 6.2 Compilation of existing pullout capacity prediction models 6.2.1 Strength and pullout force model based on 𝒉𝒆𝒇 6.2.2 Strength and pullout force model based on 𝒉𝒆𝒇 and ∅𝒉 6.2.3 Tensile strength and pullout force model 6.3 Application of existing prediction model in early age concrete 7. Conclusions 8. Literature

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The early age cracking of concrete, which includes plastic shrinkage cracking (PShC) and plastic settlement cracking (PSeC), commonly occurs in flat concrete elements such as bridge decks and slabs or at the change of a concrete section depth. These cracks typically occur once the concrete has been cast and consolidated up to the final setting time, and initiate when the tensile stresses developed in the concrete exceeds its ultimate tensile strength or, alternatively phrased, when the restrained shrinkage induced strain in the concrete exceeds its tensile strain capacity. These cracks have a premature detrimental effect on the durability and strength of concrete structures as they allow deleterious materials to penetrate the concrete, which could cause the corrosion of steel reinforcing. With this in mind, the objective of this study is to gain a fundamental understanding of the tensile properties of early age concrete, up to the point of final setting, as well as the variables that affect these properties. This is done to better understand, and ultimately reduce the risk of early age cracking. To achieve this, experimental assemblies found in literature were evaluated and built upon to create a multi-component uniaxial tensile testing setup that is able to capture the complete stress-strain behaviour of early age concrete, while still in a plastic state. The following significant findings were attained from this study: • Reducing the coarse aggregate size in a concrete mix increases both the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of early age concrete, while reducing both its fracture energy and fracture process zone (FPZ) characteristic length. • The low volume addition of microfibres to a conventional concrete mix increases both the fracture energy and the FPZ characteristic length of early age concrete. • The low volume addition of microfibres to a conventional concrete mix increases the strain capacity of early age concrete shortly before and after the initial setting time. This increased strain capacity is believed to be of great significance for the prevention of PShC. • The addition of an accelerator to a conventional concrete mix accelerates the development of the tensile properties of early age concrete, while a retarder reduces it. • The addition of a retarder to a conventional concrete mix increases the strain capacity of early age concrete shortly before and after the initial setting time. This provides a reason for the reduced PShC severity observed in retarded mixes in certain instances. From this study it is concluded that the results from the tensile tests provide a greater understanding of the tensile properties of early age concrete as well as the variables that affect them. When interpreting these results in combination with those obtained from PShC experiments, it is suggested that it is possible to determine when and if PShC will occur. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vroëe-ouderdom kraking van beton, wat plastiese krimp krake (PKK) en plastiese versakkings krake (PVK) insluit, kom algemeen voor in plat betonelemente soos brug-dekke en blaaie, of by die die verandering in die deursnit diepte van betonelemente. Die krake kom tiepies voor vandat beton gegiet en gekompakteer is totdat dit die finale settyd bereik, en vind plaas sodra die trekspanning wat in die beton ontstaan sy treksterkte oorskry of, anders bewoord, wanneer die verhinderde krimp geinduseerde vervorming van die beton, die vervormings-kapasiteit van die beton oorskry. Hierdie krake het ʼn voortydige nagelige uitwerking op die duursaamheid en sterkte van betonstrukture aangesien hulle toelaat dat skadelike stowwe die beton binnedring, wat die korrosie van staalbewapening veroorsaak. Met dit ingedagte is die doel van die studie om fundamentele kennis rakende die vroëe-ouderdom trekeienskappe van beton, tot by die punt van finale set, asook die veranderlikes wat die eienskappe beinvloed, te verwerf. Om vroëe-ouederdom krake beter te verstaan en uiteindelik, te voorkom, is hierdie kennis nodig. Eksperimentele opstellings in literatuur is ge-evalueer en op voortgebou vir die bou van ʼn multi-komponet eenassige terktoetsopstelling om die volledige spanning-vervorming gedrag van vroëe-ouderdom beton vas te vang. Die volgende bevindings het uit die studie aan die lig gekom: • ʼn Kleiner aggregaat grootte in n betonmeng verhoog beide die trekstrekte en Young se modulus van vroëe-ouderdom beton, terwyl dit beide die fraktuur-energie en die fraktuur proses sone (FPS) se karakteristieke lengte verminder. • Die lae volume byvoeging van mikrovesels tot ʼn betonmeng verhoog beide die fraktuur-energie en die FPS se karakteristieke lengte van vroëe-ouderdom beton. • Die lae volume byvoeging van mikrovesels tot ʼn betonmeng verhoog die vervormings kapasiteit van vroëe-ouderdom beton kort voor en na die aanvanklike settyd. Daar word geglo dat hierdie verhoogde vervormings-kapasiteit van groot belang is vir die voorkoming van PKK. • Die byvoeging van ʼn versneller tot ʼn betonmeng versnel die ontwikkelingstempo van die trekeienskappe van vroëe-ouderdom beton, terwyl ʼn vertrager dit verlaag. • Die byvoeging van ʼn vertrager tot ʼn betonmeng verhoog die vervormings-kapasiteit van vroëe-ouderdom beton kort voor en na die aanvanklike settyd. Dit verskaf die rede vir die bevinding dat die byvoeging van ʼn vertrager PKK in sekere gevalle verminder. Hierdie studie het bevind dat die die trektoetse ʼn groter begrip rakende die trek-eienskappe van vroëe-ouderdom beton, en die veranderlikes wat die eienskappe beinvloed, gelewer het. Wanneer die resultate van die studie tesame met PShC toetse geinterpreteer word, will dit voorkom dat dit moontlik is om te bepaal wanneer, en of PKK sal plaasvind.

Concrete curing has long been realized to be important to produce durable concrete. Curing compound is widely used to cure concrete in the field. The current curing membrane evaluation method ASTM C 156, however, is incapable of distinguishing the curing compound quality and guiding the curing practice in the field. A new laboratory curing membrane evaluation protocol is developed in this study. It has the ability to rank the quality of curing compound and guide curing practice in the field according to the field ambient weather conditions and the type of curing compound. A series of field tests were conducted to investigate the key factors that affect the curing effectiveness in the field conditions. A finite element program, temperature and moisture analysis for curing concrete (TMAC2), is updated to solve the coupled and nonlinear heat transfer and moisture transport problems in early-age concrete. Moisture capacity is induced into the TMAC2, which makes it unique to characterize the self-desiccation. A full scale concrete pavement test study was conducted at the FAA National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) near Atlantic City, New Jersey. In this study, the material properties, i.e. thermal conductivity and moisture diffusivity, were backcalculated from field data. Thereafter, backcalculated material properties were used to forward-calculate the temperature and moisture histories of all other sections. High order shear deformable theory is used to model the concrete slab curling and warping behavior because of highly nonlinear temperature and moisture gradients. The maximum shear strain is obtained a couple of inches below the concrete slab. This might account for the occurrence of delamination.

This diploma thesis is conceived as theoretical and empirical. The theoretical part has two objectives. The first of these objectives is to explore options to help the surviving siblings in the family and society. The second objective is to describe the principles of educational work with traumatized children. This work introduces the specifics of early age and possible consequences of acting trauma in this life period. It outlines briefly the development of frequency of children's mortality and it considers whether death pertains among the taboos of the postmodern society. There are described manifestations of grief and mourning and factors, which determine the ability to accept a bereavement of a loved one. The findings are used to formulate the principles of education of the traumatized children. The practical part contains five case studies that provide information about factors which affected the lives of the surviving siblings. Keywords Early age, sorrow, trauma, mourning, death of a sibling

O estudo do comportamento do concreto nas primeiras idades está se tornando cada vez mais importante, pois os efeitos térmicos e de retração do concreto, neste período inicial, geram fissuras, aumentando a permeabilidade das estruturas e podendo induzir problemas de durabilidade e funcionalidade das mesmas. Um detalhado estudo da evolução das tensões durante as primeiras idades pode ser decisivo para manter baixos os níveis de fissuração. Neste trabalho foi implementado um modelo computacional, baseado no método dos elementos finitos, para a simulação do comportamento de peças de concreto nas primeiras idades, tendo, em especial, o propósito de avaliar o potencial risco de fissuração. A análise por elementos finitos abrange a modelagem computacional dos fenômenos químicos, térmicos, de difusão de umidade e mecânicos que ocorrem nos primeiros dias após o lançamento do concreto. Na análise química é determinado o calor gerado pelas reações exotérmicas de hidratação do cimento. Na análise térmica o programa considera ainda o fluxo de calor devido à diferença de temperatura entre o corpo e o ambiente. Em função das propriedades térmicas e geométricas do corpo em estudo são determinadas as temperaturas nodais. Na seqüência, realiza-se a análise de difusão de umidade. Aproveitando a semelhança entre as equações que regem os fenômenos de transferência de calor e difusão de umidade, empregam-se os mesmos procedimentos da análise térmica para a determinação do valor nodal da umidade relativa dos poros. Na análise mecânica, por sua vez, são calculados os estados de tensões decorrentes das variações de temperatura e umidade determinadas nas etapas anteriores e dos fenômenos de retração e fluência do concreto. Quando o estado de tensão de determinado ponto de integração atinge a superfície de ruptura, o ponto passa a ser considerado fissurado. O programa considera a fissuração através de um modelo de fissuras distribuídas com fisssura fixa. Os resultados desta modelagem computacional foram comparados com valores experimentais encontrados na literatura, demonstrando excelente aproximação em todas as etapas de solução implementadas. / The study of the early age properties of concrete is becoming more important, because the thermal effects and the shrinkage, even in the first hours, could generate cracks, increasing the permeability of the structure and being able to induce problems of durability and functionality. The detailed study of the stresses development during the construction process can be decisive to keep low the cracking levels. In this work a computational model, based on the finite element method was implemented, to simulate the early age concrete behavior, having as a special feature, the evaluation of the cracking risk. The finite element analysis encloses the computational modeling of the following phenomena: chemical, thermal, diffusion and mechanical which occur at the first days after the concrete cast. In the chemical analysis, the heat generated by the exothermic reactions of cement hydration is evaluated. In the thermal analysis the program still considers the heat flow due to differences in temperatures between the body and the environment. Considering the thermal and geometric properties of the body, the nodal temperatures are determined. The following analysis is the humidity diffusion. Using the similarity between the equations that describe the phenomena of heat transfer and humidity diffusion, the same thermal analysis procedures are used to evaluate the pore relative humiditys nodal values. In the last analysis, mechanical, the stress states due to temperature and humidity variations, evaluated in the previous steps, and also due to shrinkage and creep are calculated. When the stress state in a determined sample point reaches the rupture surface, the point is considered cracked. The program evaluates cracking through a smeared fixed crack model. The developed software results were compared with experimental values found in the literature, demonstrating an excellent agreement for all the implemented analysis.

Les structures en bétons sont souvent exposées dès le jeune âge du matériau à des milieux pouvant être agressifs pour leur durabilité. En effet, dans certains cas, ces structures sont directement au contact d’une eau de mer riche en ions chlorure et sulfate. L’attaque sulfatique affecte surtout la pâte de ciment par des mécanismes physico-chimiques complexes et couplées entrainant la ruine mécanique, souvent liée à l’expansion par la formation de produits expansifs tels que le l’ettringite et le gypse. Les ions chlorure peuvent engendrer une corrosion des armatures Ces deux pathologies sont largement étudiées dans la littérature. Cependant, l’ASE est encore sujette à controverses, ce qui peut expliquer l’absence d’un essai normé européen. La prédiction de la durée de vie des ouvrages dans des conditions couplant le jeune âge, la prise en compte des ions sulfate et chlorure ainsi que le pH du milieu peut être très complexe. Dans ce contexte, nous avons tout d’abord comme finalité avec cette étude de proposer un essai le plus représentatif possible des conditions d’exposition réelles, particulièrement dans le cas de l’ASE. L’attention est portée sur les effets de la cure dans les aspects physico-chimiques de l’ASE, du transfert et l’interaction de la matrice cimentaire avec les ions chlorure en conditions saturées et de de semi-immersion et l’effet d’un environnement couplant ces ions délétères sur les évolutions de la microstructure des pâtes de ciment jeune et mature à base de ciment Portland, de type CEM I et un ciment mélangé au laitier, de type CEM III/A. Le couplage de plusieurs techniques d’analyses expérimentales a permis la prise en compte de l’aspect physique du transport ionique, et l’aspect chimique par quantification de la microstructure avant et après la contamination par les éventuels ions. Cette quantification est réalisée en couplant plusieurs méthodes expérimentales comme les analyses thermiques ATG/ATD et la Résonance Magnétique Nucléaire (RMN de l’27Al et RMN du 29Si). Dans le cas de l’ASE, ces analyses ont montré à la fois l’effet neutre de la cure sur la propagation des ions sulfate dans la matrice et l’effet important sur les mécanismes de fixation chimique entre les ions sulfates apportées par la solution et les hydrates de la pâte de ciment. Ces essais ont aussi mis en évidence l’effet néfaste de l’exposition dès le jeune âge à la solution de sulfate de sodium dans le cas des pâtes de ciment au laitier. A l’inverse la cure saine longue dans l’eau a un effet négatif vis-à-vis de la résistance l’ASE des pâtes de ciment Portland. La compétition ionique dans le cas du couplage est mise en évidence. Cette compétition a un effet mitigé quant au transport et la fixation des ions chlorure. La capacité de fixation des ions est plus grande dans le cas du ciment CEM III/A, en présence ou non d’ions sulfate.Mots Clés: pâte de ciment, attaque sulfatique externe (ASE), jeune âge, chlorure, couplage ionique, RMN 29 Si et RMN 27Al, ATG/ATD, ICP / In industrial practice, concrete structural elements are exposed to various physical and chemical aggressions as soon as their formwork is removed. This early age exposure has an obvious influence on the element future transfer properties. Indeed, in some cases, these structures are directly immersed in sea water, rich in chloride and sulfate ions. Ingress of sulfate ions from the external environment and its consequences on the microstructure are known as External Sulfate Attack (ESA). Sulfate ion in seawater or underground can attack the cement paste leading to expansion and strength loss. This expansion is usually related to ettringite and gypsum precipitation. The chloride ions can cause corrosion of the reinforcements steel bars. This two pathologies are widely studied in the literature. However ESA is still controversial, which may explain the need of a European standardized test. Predicting the durability of concrete under conditions involving an early age exposure, the inclusion of chloride and sulfate ions and the pH of the external mixtures can be very complex. One of the aim of this work is to purpose a test as representative as possible of field conditions, particularly to study the ESA under controlled conditions (the pH and the external solution content). Tests are done in saturated and partially-immersed conditions. We focus on the initiation process of this degradation. The physicochemical aspects of ESA are studied. The impact of an early age exposure is highlighted in the case of ESA and chloride ingress. The microstructure changes are monitored by using several experimental techniques such as NMR (29Si and 27 Si), ICP, TGA, XRD and SEM. These analyses showed a neutral effect of an early age exposure on the sulfate ingress in both cement types (CEM I and CEM III/A). However, a negative effect of slag cement is observed after only 3 months of exposure the sulfate sodium solution at early age. Also, neither cracker when the slag cement paste are exposed after curing. Conversely, Portland cement paste resist very well and long to ASE, for an early age exposer and fail for the cured specimens. Ionic competition in the coupling case is highlighted. This competition has a mixed effect on the transport and attachment of chloride ions. The ion binding capacity is greater in the case of cement CEM III / A, in the presence or absence of sulfate ions.Key words: cement paste, External sulfate attack, ESA, early age, chloride and sulfate ingress, marine environment, RMN 29 Si and RMN 27Al, ATG/ATD, ICP

Cytochrome P450¡]CYP¡^2J2, the single member of human cytochromes P450 II J subfamily, plays an important role in the biosynthesis of biologically active cis-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. An allelic variant named CYP 2J2*7, a relatively frequent G¡÷T substitution at position-50 relative to the transcription start site, which interrupts a critical Sp1 binding site, results in both decreased promoter activity in vitro and reduced circulating levels of CYP2J2 epoxygenase metabolites. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EETs) are endogenously produced and incorporated into membrane phospholipids in the pancreas. Low concentrations of 5,6-EETs stimulate insulin secretion, whereas 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-EETs stimulate glucagon secretion from the pancreas. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. EETs increased PPAR-£\ and PPAR-£^ transcription activity. PPAR-£\ and PPAR-£^ play a key role in the regulation of adipogenesis, lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity and inflammation. Thus, genetic abnormalities in the function or expression of CYP2J2, the pathogenetic of enzymes may play a role in diabetes. The present study investigates whether CYP 2J2*7 gene polymorphism can be associated with type 2 diabetes in a Chinese population. We studied 2,073 Chinese type 2 diabetes patients and 704 control subjects without. CYP 2J2*7 gene polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP and real-time PCR. In both study groups, the genotype frequency distributions of this polymorphism were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The CYP2J2*7 genotype distribution or allele frequencies were not different between type 2 diabetes and control subjects. Diabetics with young age of onset¡]¡Ø35 years old¡^ had a higher frequency of T variant than that of the age of onset of greater than 35 years old and controls ( GG / GT + TT = 84.2% / 15.8% vs. 90.3% / 9.7% vs. 91.3% / 8.7%¡Fp = 0.018¡Ap = 0.027 ). CYP2J2*7 genotype had a statistically significant association with age of onset ( p for trend = 0.042 ). The HOMA-IR and HOMA-£] values were significantly higher in diabetic patients with young age of onset compared to those of late onset diabetics and controls. CYP2J2*7 polymorphism was associated with HOMA-IR and HOMA-£] in diabetics with young age of onset and controls, subjects and T variants had significant higher value of HOMA-IR and HOMA-£]¡]early onset diabetics¡GGG / GT + TT = 8.9 ¡Ó 6.1 / 6.4 ¡Ó 3.8, p=0.045¡Fcontrols¡GGG / GT + TT = 2.6 ¡Ó 1.1 / 2.1 ¡Ó 0.8, p = 0.007¡^.These findings suggest that CYP 2J2*7 polymorphism may play a role in the pathogenesis of young onset type 2 diabetes and family diabetic history.

In bridge deck concrete, early-age cracking can lead to substantial serviceability and structural integrity issues over the lifespan of the bridge. An understanding of the temperature, stress, and strength development of concrete can aid determining the early-age cracking susceptibility. This project, funded by the Texas Department of Transportation, evaluated these properties for various bridge deck materials and mixture proportions. The research presented in this thesis involved a laboratory testing program that used a combination of semi-adiabatic calorimetry, rigid cracking frame, free shrinkage frame, and match cured cylinder testing program that allowed the research team to simulate the performance of common bridge deck mixture designs under hot and cold weather conditions. In this program, the semi-adiabatic calorimetry was used, with previously generated models, to generate the temperature profile of the mixture. The rigid cracking frame and free shrinkage frame were used to evaluate the restrained stress development and the unrestrained volume changes, respectively, under the simulated temperatures. The match-cure cylinder testing program allowed the research team to generate a strength development profile for the concrete mixtures under the various simulated temperature profiles. Results from the laboratory program revealed that in hot weather simulations, ground granulated blast furnace slag mixtures developed the lowest stress / strength ratios, and in cold weather simulations, Class F fly ash mixtures developed the lowest stress / strength ratios. In general, use of SCMs and limestone coarse aggregate results in mixtures that generate less heat and lower stress / strength ratios. Isothermal testing showed that shrinkage reducing admixtures were effective in reducing early-age strains from chemical shrinkage. In addition to the laboratory testing program, a field testing program was completed to measure the temperature development of four bridge decks during the winter and summer months. The recorded concrete temperatures and the effects of the environmental conditions at the time of the pour will aid in the calibration and validation of the temperature prediction component of ConcreteWorks for bridge deck construction. In addition, experience gained through these field pours resulted in an optimized instrumentation procedure that will aid in the successful collection of data in future projects. / text

L’hydratation du ciment est une réaction exothermique. Ce phénomène est particulièrement surveillé lorsque des pièces massives sont construites étant donné l’élévation de la température, le développement de contraintes thermomécaniques et le risque de réaction sulfatique interne. Compte tenu de la grande variété des formules de béton, le choix d’un ciment ayant une basse chaleur d’hydratation à 41 h n’est plus exclusif. La chaleur totale dégagée dépend d’autres paramètres de formulation tels que le dosage en ciment et l’emploi d’addition. D’un point de vue mécanique, le risque de fissuration dépend aussi du développement des propriétés mécaniques. Dans le but de mieux connaître et contrôler ces risques, une étude de l’effet de la composition du ciment sur la cinétique d’hydratation et les propriétés du ciment, et notamment, sur le dégagement de chaleur est d’abord réalisée. A la suite de cela, la formulation du béton est étudiée afin de voir son effet sur les propriétés thermomécaniques de celui-ci. Enfin, un nouvel essai permettant d’évaluer le risque de fissuration du béton est développé. Le premier chapitre présente donc tout d’abord un condensé des connaissances sur l’hydratation du ciment et de ses propriétés, suivi du type d’essais réalisés et les différents ciments fabriqués, et enfin l’analyse des résultats puis les ciments sélectionnés pour la poursuite de l’étude au niveau béton. Dans le deuxième chapitre, après une étude bibliographique du béton, une trentaine de bétons sont formulés à partir des ciments précédemment sélectionnés et sont étudiés thermiquement par mesure de chaleur d’hydratation. Grâce aux résultats obtenus, un outil de formulation permettant de prendre en compte un cahier des charges est développé. Après sélection de 9 bétons – dont l’échauffement thermique et les résistances mécaniques varient, le troisième chapitre s’attache à les caractériser de manière plus poussée au jeune âge, avec un suivi de l’évolution du module d’Young statique et dynamique, des déformations endogènes ainsi que du fluage. Un nouvel essai à l’anneau mettant en jeu l’échauffement thermique durant l’hydratation et les déformations endogènes gênées du béton est développé. L’imposition de l’échauffement thermique mesuré d’une pièce massive dans l’anneau permet de tester le béton comme s’il était utilisé dans une structure. L’utilisation d’anneau en invar ayant un coefficient de dilatation thermique inférieur à celui du béton induit, lors de l’échauffement, des contraintes en compression dans le béton, et lors du refroidissement, des contraintes en traction. Lorsque les contraintes en traction générées sont supérieures à la résistance en traction du béton, il y a fissuration. Enfin, le dernier chapitre consiste à modéliser l’essai à l’anneau avec le logiciel de calcul CESAR en prenant en compte l’évolution de l’échauffement thermique, du module d’Young, des déformations endogènes et du fluage du béton et de confronter les résultats obtenus avec les essais expérimentaux / Hydration reactions of cement are exothermic. This phenomenon is especially tracked in large concrete structures because temperature gradients create mechanical stresses which can induce the development of cracks or of Delayed Ettringite Formation (DEF). Nowadays, because of the wide range of concrete formulations, low 41 h hydration heat cement need not to be used. Hydration heat depends on other formulation parameters such as quantity of cement and addition use. From a mechanical point of view, the risk of cracking also depends on the development of mechanical properties. In this study, screenings of constituents and characteristics of cement and concrete are performed to determine which ones have the most influence on the thermal activity and on the heat released in massive concrete structures. Then, the effect of concrete formulation on its thermo-mechanical properties is studied. Finally, a new experimental test is developed in order to evaluate the risk of cracking. In the first chapter, a summary of knowledge on the cement hydration and its properties is presented. Experimental tests, fabrication of cement and results are then explained. Nine cements are selected for pursuing the study at the concrete level. The second chapter presents state of the art on concrete and the results obtained for 30 formulated concretes. Hydration heat and compressive strengths are measured. A mix design tool is created according to the results in order to meet the required specifications. In the third chapter, the risk of cracking at early age is assessed for nine different concretes, including concretes with a low heat of hydration. Characteristics of concrete at early age such as the evolution of the mechanical properties (dynamic and static Young’s modulus, dynamic shear modulus and Poisson ratio) are measured dynamically, thanks to ultrasonic waves, and statically, by loading cycles. Autogenous shrinkage is evaluated since setting. Finally, the risk of cracking is monitored using dual concentric rings for evaluating stress development due to restrained volume change. In the fourth chapter, BT-Ring test is modeled with CESAR - an IFSTTAR software – and compared to the experimental results