Durability of Concrete Exposed to Freeze-Thaw Cycles By: Matthew David Burton
What’s Wrong with Freezing Water? Water expands 9% when it freezes
What Happens When Water Freezes in Concrete? Surface Scaling/Spalling Random Cracking D-Cracking
Why is This Important for the Cincinnati Area?
Methods for Increasing Freeze-Thaw Durability Air Entrainment Deicing Chemicals
Air Entrainment: The Details Microscopic air bubbles 10 to 50 micrometers (0.0004 to 0.02 in) Allow water to expand and contract in freeze-thaw cycles Created using a surfactant during mixing Common range for air: 4 to 7% of total concrete volume
Air Entrainment: Pros and Cons Durability in freeze-thaw cycles Increased workability Wetting-drying cycle resistance One time addition (unlike deicers) Too little air Lack of durability Too much air Difficulty finishing Air clusters Decreased compressive strength Economy: Around 5% more expensive
Deicing Chemicals: The Details Include chlorides: NaCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2 Organics: Calcium manganese acetate (CMA) Significantly decrease freezing point of water Dissolves in water and interferes with freezing
Deicing Chemicals: Pros and Cons Increased freeze-thaw durability Economical Concrete deterioration Must be applied continually
Conclusions Air entrainment should always be used Deicing chemicals can be used but type and quantities must be closely monitored
References Pittsburgh Mobile Concrete, Inc. “Bootstrap Slider.” www.around-monroeville.com. 7 March 2016. “Pavement damage due to Freeze Thaw Cycles.” civildigital.com. 7 March 2016. “Why Do Sidewalks Have Lines?” wonderopolis.org. 12 March 2016. “Freeze-Thaw.” www.ecocem.ie. 12 March 2016. Hershfield, David M. “The Frequency of Freeze-Thaw Cycles.” Journal of Applied Meteorology (1974): 1-7. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. “Air entrained concrete.” northernconcreteinc.com. 16 March 2016. “Sand vs. Salt: What’s better for the environment?” wescapelic.com. 16 March 2016. “Four Caricom Countries.” today.caricom.org. 21 March 2016. Portland Cement Association. “Freeze-Thaw Resistance.” www.cement.org. 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. National Ready Mix Concrete Association. “Freeze Thaw Resistance of Pervious Concrete.” www.rmc- foundation.org. May 2004. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. Hershfield, David M. “The Frequency of Freeze-Thaw Cycles.” Journal of Applied Meteorology (1974): 1-7. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. Portland Cement Association. “What is air-entrained concrete?” www.cement.org. 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. “What Special Performance Do You Need?” www.concretenetwork.com. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. “Adjusting Air Entrainment.” www.concreteconstruction.net. 17 Feb. 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. “How Do De-icing Materials Affect Concrete?” www.theconcreteproducer.com. 23 Nov. 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
Thank you for listening!