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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

Evaluation of D-cracking Durability of Indiana Carbonate Aggregates for use in Pavement Concrete

Concrete pavements are susceptible to damages from freezing and thawing in cold climates if not properly designed or built with durable materials. Certain types of sedimentary rocks, mainly limestone and dolomite are prone to freeze-thaw (FT) durability problems. As a result, concrete pavements containing such aggregate and exposed to a FT environment may develop a series of closely spaced cracks located near (and nominally parallel to) the longitudinal and transverse joints. This kind of deterioration is traditionally known as D-cracking. The D-cracking resistance of these aggregates depends on characteristics of their internal pore system, mineralogy (crystallinity), and the amount of clay in the microstructure. The importance of these factors with respect to D-cracking resistance of the aggregate is still not fully understood. In the state of Indiana, limestone and dolomite deposits are the main sources of aggregates for pavement concrete. This study involved evaluation of eighteen carbonate aggregate samples collected from fourteen quarries in Indiana. These samples included materials from different geological formations and represented variable freeze-thaw resistance. In order to evaluate the FT performance of these aggregates in concrete pavements, they were used to fabricate prismatic concrete test specimens (3 x 4 x 15 in.). These concrete prisms were subjected to over 350 FT cycles following the ASTM C666 (ASHTO T161) Procedure B test parameters. In addition to determining the values of durability factor (DF) for concrete, the researchers also measured the percent of dilation of the concrete beams (as per Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) ITM 210 test method) and evaluated performance of aggregates using recently modified Indiana Department of Transportation Hydraulic Fracture Test (HFT) equipment and procedures. To investigate the influence of mineralogy on freeze-thaw performance of aggregates, they were subjected to additional tests which included: thin section petrographic analysis, determination of aggregate chemical composition using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and evaluation of the percentages of insoluble residue following the ASTM D3042. The study identified a quicker method to assess freeze-thaw performance of concrete aggregates and the influence of aggregate pore properties on concrete durability. The study determined that the INDOT modified HFT equipment and process can successfully (with 95% accuracy) predict the D-cracking resistance of a given aggregate assuming 0.05% dilation as the failure criterion. The amount of iron and sulfur determined using the ICP-AES test related to the freeze-thaw performance of the carbonate aggregates tested, however, additional testing should be performed using aggregate from additional sources to verify this finding before it is considered for use as a quick indication of expected FT performance.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 181-197
  • Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 66th Highway Geology Symposium (HGS 2015)

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01638274
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jun 21 2017 5:16PM