Title:
Assessing the Durability of Concrete in Freezing and Thawing
Author(s):
Rachel J. Detwiler, Brian J. Dalgleish, and Robert Brady
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
86
Issue:
1
Appears on pages(s):
29-35
Keywords:
air entrainment; concretes; electron microscopes; tests; freeze-thaw durability; microstructure; Materials Research
DOI:
10.14359/1823
Date:
1/1/1989
Abstract:
Concretes subjected to cycles of freezing and thawing can deteriorate rapidly unless they are designed properly for these conditions. Standard tests are used to determine the suitability of a particular concrete for service under cycles of freezing and thawing. However, in these tests, failure takes place by a different mechanism than would occur in service. It may be possible to obtain a better prediction of the actual performance of the concrete in service by including an examination of the microstructure of the air-void system as part of the test procedure. Scanning electron micrographs of two concretes exposed to the same environmental conditions illustrate this point.