Are Deicing Salts Necessary to Promote Scaling in Concrete?

The main aim of this study is to investigate the role of the material parameters such as permeability, thermal diffusivity, and pore size distribution on the mechanical behavior of cementitious structures submitted to frost action, such as surface scaling. An experimental device, in which a cement paste specimen is exposed to freezing-thawing cycles under a thermal gradient, has been developed. The experimental results show that under high thermal gradient (up to 1.5°C/mm), skin damage can occur without a saline layer in contact with the frozen surface. This can be explained and quantified in the framework of poromechanics. The model is based on the coupling between liquid-ice crystal thermodynamic equilibrium, liquid water transport, thermal conduction, and elastic properties of the different phases that form the saturated porous material. It eventually predicts that a less permeable sample is more susceptible to damage by surface defacement, which explains the observed experimental result.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339399
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from ASCE
• Authors:
  • Fabbri, Antonin
  • Coussy, Olivier
  • Fen-Chong, Teddy
  • Monteiro, Paulo J M
• Publication Date: 2008-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 589-598
• Serial:
  • Journal of Engineering Mechanics
  • Volume: 134
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9399
  • EISSN: 1943-7889
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jenmdt

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete structures; Deicing; Deicing chemicals; Durability; Salts; Scaling (Concrete); Spalling; Thermoelasticity
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Materials; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01104193
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 17 2008 9:23AM