Title:
Deicer Salt Scaling Resistance of Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavements
Author(s):
Anik Delagrave, Jacques Marchand, Michel Pigeon, and Jean Boisvert
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
94
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
164-169
Keywords:
air entrainment; deicers; durability; pavements; scaling;
roller compacted concrete;
DOI:
10.14359/298
Date:
3/1/1997
Abstract:
In the fourth year of a research project of roller-compacted concrete pavements, a test section was cast during the summer of 1990 using four different mixtures. Two types of binder (ASTM Type 1 + a Class F fly ash and a blended silica fume cement) and two binder contents (250 kg/m3) were used to prepare these mixtures. To verify if a proper air-bubble network could be obtained, and if it is necessary to have bubbles in RCC to be frost-resistant, three of the four mixtures were prepared with an air-entraining agent. Based on previous good results, the four mixtures were cured with two different white membrane curing compounds. Samples representative of all mixtures were taken from the pavement after 28 days. The air void characteristics of all concretes were determined in accordance with ASTM C 457 and the salt scaling resistance of all mixtures was evaluated using ASTM C 672 on rolled surfaces. Despite the large dosages of air-entraining agent used, microscopic examinations clearly indicated that it was not possible to entrain spherical air bubbles in all RCC mixtures. The mass of scaled-off particles after 50 cycles of freezing and thawing in the presence of a salt solution is higher than the 1 kg/m2 limit for most samples tested. Test results also indicate that the construction of a deicer-resistant roller-compacted concrete pavement is possible, but only under certain conditions, some of which are not yet clearly defined. Good construction practices (including sufficient compaction and the use of a curing compound) are clearly required. The use of supplementary cementitious materials also appears to be a requirement.