Concrete Pumping Effects on Air-Entrained Voids in Concrete Mixtures

Placing concrete using a concrete pump has placement advantages due to the increased speed, accessibility, and convenience of operation. Unfortunately, the pumping of air-entrained concrete is known to affect the fresh air content in the fresh concrete. This has caused concern about the durability of concrete in environments where the concrete will experience repeated freezing and thawing cycles. The research described in this report investigated the impact concrete pumping has on air-entrained voids in concrete. The study examines the effects of different air contents, pumping time, and pressure has on the air volume and the stability of the air void system. The laboratory tests conducted show a significant amount of air volume was lost in the fresh concrete as a result of pumping. In many cases, the quality of the air void system in the fresh concrete would predict the concrete would have poor performance in freeze-thaw testing; however, all mixtures showed satisfactory performance in ASTM C666 freeze-thaw testing. This indicates the quality of the air void system in the fresh concrete after pumping is not representative of the hardened concrete for the materials and procedures used in this testing. The results suggest that if a high-quality air void system is present prior to pumping, that the air void system after pumping should be sufficient for freeze-thaw durability.

• Record URL:
  • https://static1.squarespace.com/static/526c7a98e4b023d8f09390ed/t/5cd46e814785d36367275131/1557425796746/SPTC14.1-38+Final+Report+Ley+050919.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/41980
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Stillwater, OK  United States  74078

  Southern Plains Transportation Center

  University of Oklahoma
  202 W Boyd St, Room 213A
  Norman, OK  United States  73019

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Becker, Justin
  • Ley, Tyler
  • 0000-0002-8782-2028
• Publication Date: 2019-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 41p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Admixtures; Air voids; Freeze thaw durability; Freeze thaw tests; Fresh concrete; Laboratory tests; Pumped concrete
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01705969
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SPTC14.1-38-F
• Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC36
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 28 2019 9:45AM