PURPOSES : In this study, experimental findings regarding the frost resistance of concrete incorporated with mineral admixtures such as fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (SG) are presented.
METHODS : To evaluate the performance of the abovementioned concretes under repeated freezing and thawing environments, based on the ASTM C 666 standard, the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity and mass ratio measurements are performed regularly. Furthermore, based on the ASTM C 672 standard, the concretes are exposed to 4% CaCl2 and NaCl salt solutions along with repeated 50 cycles of freezing and thawing. Subsequently, the scaling resistance is evaluated based on the scaled-off mass content and visual examination.
RESULTS : SG is less effective in enhancing the scaling resistance of concrete compared with FA. However, the concrete incorporated with SG is more resistant to repeated freeze-thaw actions compared with OPC concrete. Meanwhile, compared with OPC concrete, the concrete incorporated with FA indicates a similar performance in terms of scaling resistance and better resistance against repeated freeze-thaw actions.
CONCLUSIONS : The frost resistance of concrete depends significantly on the types of mineral admixtures used in concrete. This emphasizes the importance of selecting the appropriate binder to achieve durable concrete pavements in cold climate regions.