PETROLOGICAL STUDIES ON CARBONATE AGGREGATE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAVEMENT D-CRACKING IN SOUTHERN MANITOBA, CANADA

Petrographic evaluation of aggregate in portland cement concrete from Winnipeg International Airport was conducted to determine the characteristic composition, texture, and porosity of nondurable carbonate aggregate associated with D-cracking. Aggregate in the concrete is from the glaciofluvial Birds Hill esker complex northeast of Winnipeg. Carbonate rocks (limestone and dolomite) constitute 75 to 85 percent (by volume) of aggregate in the recovered drill cores, with granite and basalt the only other significant rock types. Polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction analyses of the carbonate aggregate resulted in the following conclusions: (a) All major fracturing in the concrete is associated with coarse carbonate aggregate greater than 1/4 in. in diameter. (b) Composition of nondurable carbonate aggregate is one of the following types: pure end member limestone, dolomite, or a chalky white silicified limestone. (c) Texturally, the carbonate rocks are massive, micritic-to-finely crystalline mudstone to packstone. Layering does not occur and clay minerals are noted in trace amounts only. (d) The uniform grain size and shape results in a narrow pore size range in the carbonate rocks mainly as intergranular porosity. (e) The expansive alkali-carbonate rock reaction is not a factor in the concrete deterioration as neither the composition nor the texture of the carbonate rocks corresponds to the documented characteristic of susceptible rock types. Also, the map-cracking characteristic of the deterioration does not occur on the apron. The few carbonate particles with reaction rims display a good bond between the cement and aggregate.

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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Performance of Concrete.
• Authors:
  • Mysyk, W K
• Conference:
  • 66th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1987-1-12 to 1987-1-15
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 10-15
• Monograph Title: Concrete and Concrete Construction
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1110
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Alkali aggregate reactions; Basalt coarse aggregates; Block cracking; Carbonate rocks; D cracking; Deterioration; Diffraction; Dolomite; Electron microscopy; Geological surveying; Grain shape (Geology); Grain size (Geology); Granite; Limestone aggregates; Materials selection; Petrography; Porosity; Portland cement concrete; Scanners; Texture; X rays
• Uncontrolled Terms: X-ray diffraction
• Geographic Terms: Manitoba
• Old TRIS Terms: Aggregate characteristics; Petrographic investigations; Polarizing microscopy; Scanning
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I36: Aggregates;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00464512
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030904460X
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 31 1987 12:00AM