EFFECT OF FREEZING AND THAWING ON CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

Abstract

Freezing and thawing damage is one of the major problems of concrete in cold climates., The freezing and thawing on concrete pavements distresses can occur as a result of the interaction between the concrete and the environment in which it serves. Hence, the need for freezing and thawing study is gaining importance in the present situations. Once freezing breaks out in concrete pavements, it results . in the loss of strength and reduces the life of pavements. Cracking and spalling is the most common results of freezing and thawing damage in concrete. Freeze-thaw resistance is a key durability factor for concrete pavements. Air entrainment is a necessary component of concrete mixtures exposed to freezing and thawing environments. The freezing and thawing of compacted new snow can result in the formation of ice comparable to glaze in density and slipperiness. In the present study, it was aimed at finding out the durability factor, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity by using three ASTM methods and also find out flexural strength of concrete pavements which were exposed to freezing and thawing of high grades of concrete (M30, M35 and M40) for different maximum size of aggregates (12.5, 20 and25mm) along with observe the condition of pavements, percent loss in weight and expansion of concrete pavements at the end of freeze-thaw cycles.