Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-19A

DEMOCRATIZING SIMULATION
FIGURE 5 Simulation results showing the temperature inside the casting at a specific instance and a chart of strength
development over time.
alternative materials may
slow down hydration and
have different strength
development characteristics.
We wanted HETT22
to help
users predict the behavior of
concrete that they may not be
familiar with. "
R » SIMULATION
ESULTS GUIDE
PREEMPTIVE
ADJUSTMENTS
Running the app powered
by COMSOL models yields
predicted values for the
characteristics that determine
how long it will take to
achieve the desired strength
- in this example, 15 MPa -
before form removal. " We can
track expected temperatures
for the surrounding air
and soil and forecast a
temperature curve for the
concrete itself, " says Fredvik.
(Figure 5) " Based on our
temperature development,
we can calculate that it will
take about 30 hours for the
entire casting to reach the
strength that we need. "
If that is too long for this
particular job, then HETT22
affect strength development.
" If air and windspeed
change significantly, we
can potentially remove
our formwork sooner than
expected, " Fredvik says.
can
show the potential effect of
different concrete selections
on the estimated time for
form removal. Builders can
select different options from a
menu of Heidelberg Materials'
concrete products as well
as review details about the
performance characteristics
of each option directly in the
simulation app.
What if actual weather
conditions differ from the
forecast? In that case, users
can adjust temperature
values to see how that may
" It is a nondestructive way to
predict strength. "
- MIKAEL WESTERHOLM, PROJECT MANAGER,
HEIDELBERG MATERIALS
SI » MULTIPHYSICS
MULATION
SUPPORTS COST-
BENEFIT ANALYSES
By predicting the effects of
choices related to physical
conditions, a construction
team can use a compiled
simulation app to better
manage the economics and
carbon footprint of each
project. For example, if the
weather forecast shows that
a casting with a low-carbon
concrete will take too long
due to cold temperatures, the
contractors will be confronted
with potential cost-benefit
tradeoffs.
" Should you switch to
a faster-curing cement or
a higher strength class of
concrete, even if it is more
expensive and potentially
results in a higher carbon
footprint? " Westerholm
questions. " Or is it possible
to stick with your initial plan,
and instead take steps to
insulate or warm up your
formwork? "
Heidelberg offers its
customers hundreds of
potential concrete recipes;
from the company's
perspective, the simulation
app is a necessary
complement to a potentially
daunting array of options.
The predictive modeling
capability of the COMSOL
Multiphysics software, when
presented through the app's
custom interface, helps users
make informed decisions
more efficiently.
HETT22
" This is why we provide
to our customers, "
says Fredvik. " Because of the
value it adds for them at each
decision point of a concrete
casting job, we see it as a
core part of our tech support
offering. "
COMSOL NEWS 19a

Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023

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