Evaluation of the frost resistance of concrete in real operating conditions

Abstract

Key words: the frost resistance of concrete, adsorption isobars, humidity, a conductometric method, the kinetics of moisture diffusion, capillary-porous structure Abstract. The article proposes a method for evaluating the frost resistance of concrete at actual operating temperatures, using measurement results at temperatures that are regulated by current standards. Frost resistance was evaluated by determining the amount of water freezing at different temperatures, based on the measured adsorption isobars and the obtained relationship between the freezing temperature of water in concrete pores and relative humidity. A comparison of the calculated values of the frost resistance of concrete with those got based on direct measurements showed the adequacy of the calculation model. To get information about the frost resistance of concrete during unilateral freezing, a conductometric method was used to determine the kinetics of moisture diffusion and ice formation. It is shown that the use of this method allows one to establish the propagation speed of the ice formation and water diffusion front and the corresponding freezing depth of concrete samples depending on their capillary-porous structure and initial storage conditions. In general, the studies conducted allowed us to get a more reliable picture of the behaviour of concrete under alternating temperature load than is provided for by current regulatory documents.