Title: Durability of High-Strength Concrete Containing a High-Range Water Reducer

Author(s): Gary L. Robson

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 100

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 765-780

Keywords: admixtures; air entrainment; bridges (structures); tests; concrete durability; freeze-thaw durability; high-strength concretes; mix proportioning; water-reducing agents; Materials Research

DOI: 10.14359/1949

Date: 4/1/1987

Abstract:
Recent construction of a segmental, precast concrete cable-stayed bridge across the Ohio River at Huntington, W. Va., involved two specially designed concretes: one with 6000 psi minimum strength and one with 8000 psi minimum strength. Attaining these strength levels was markedly enhanced by the availability and use of high-range water reducers, even though the fear of non-durable concretes was also heightened. The contract for this bridge required that the contractor develop mix designs and conduct a field trial operation to "shake down" his production and placing process using these mix proportions. Tests of the concretes produced during this field trial indicated that air-entrained high-strength concretes containing HRWR easily met the minimum strength requirements, but would not withstand the freeze-thaw cycling of ASTM C 666. Paper discusses the efforts involved in developing suitable concrete proportions for this work and compares freeze-thaw durability of high-strength concretes with and without entrained air and with and without high-range water-reducing admixtures.