Effect of Specimen Saturation on the Concrete Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

Realizing the importance of Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) in concrete pavement design, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), over the past several years, has worked with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to improve the CTE Test Method (AASHTO T336). As part of this work, the FHWA conducted a ruggedness study for the AASHTO T336 test method in 2012. Of the seven variables that were evaluated as part of the ruggedness study, specimen saturation was found to be one of the significant variables that warranted further investigation. This paper documents a follow up study performed to specifically evaluate the effect of specimen saturation in the measurement of CTE using the AASHTO T336 test method. Specimens from five concrete mixtures (three laboratory prepared and cores from two field projects) were used for this study. CTE tests were conducted on multiple specimens from each mixture at different levels of saturation in water; T336 criterion, 4 days, 7 days, 14 days, 28 days and vacuum saturation. CTE devices from two different commercial manufacturers were used for this study. Data analysis from this study indicates that there is no statistical difference in CTE measurement after 28 days of water saturation versus T336 criterion, 4 days, 7 days, 14 days and vacuum saturation. Based on this limited study, it appears that the current saturation criterion outlined in AASHTO T336 is adequate.

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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFN20 Properties of Concrete. Alternate title: Effect of Specimen Saturation on Concrete Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Gudimettla, Jagan M
  • Crawford, Gary L
  • Tanesi, Jussara
  • Ardani, Ahmad A
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
• Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p
• Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete pavements; Concrete tests; Pavement design; Percent saturation; Thermal expansion
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01555219
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-3382
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 26 2015 10:03AM