1. ERDC Knowledge Core
2. Pre - Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
3. Structures Laboratory - (4/16/1978 - 2/22/2001)
4. Publication
5. Miscellaneous Paper

Title:	Evaluation of the frost resistance of roller-compacted concrete pavements
Authors:	Ragan, Steven A.
Keywords:	Frost resistant concrete Concrete pavements Roller-compacted concrete Frost resistance Frost damage
Publisher:	Structures Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.:	Miscellaneous paper (U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station) ; SL-86-16.
Description:	Miscellaneous Paper Abstract: An investigation was conducted to evaluate the frost resistance of samples taken from roller-compacted concrete (RCC) pavements using laboratory testing procedures. Nine existing pavements were sampled and tested for microscopical determination of air-void content and parameters of the air-void system, resistance to rapid freezing and thawing, critical dilation, and compressive and flexural strength. The pavements ranged in age from 1 month to 8 years at the time of sampling. Results of the rapid freezing-and-thawing tests indicate that the frost resistance of the concrete is, as might be expected, a function of the bubble spacing factor (L) of the air-void system. Those samples having L's smaller than 0.011 in. generally had durability factors of 60 or greater. Those samples having L's greater than 0.016 in. generally had durability factors less than 40. The samples having L's less than 0.016 in. also contained approximately 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by volume, of air voids, the sections of which that were counted gave chord lengths that were less than 0.04 in. in length, but irregularly shaped. The presence of larger than anticipated amounts of small air voids appears to be related to cohesiveness of the mixture, pugmill mixing, and the method of compaction. Preliminary results of the dilation tests indicate that those samples judged to be frost susceptible when tested by rapid freezing and thawing, may, in fact, offer some degree of frost resistance. The dilation test may be appropriate, therefore, to determine whether a RCC sample is frost resistant at the time of test or to measure the period of frost immunity.
Rights:	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/11069
Appears in Collections:	Miscellaneous Paper