A novel method to prevent frost cracking of perforated concrete components in cold regions

Abstract

Perforated concrete structures are common in engineering, and concrete members can easily experience frost cracking in cold regions. Thus, this paper conducts frost heave tests on perforated concrete, aiming at the problem of the frost heave cracking risk of perforated concrete structures in cold regions. Utilizing the temperature-distribution monitoring method, we obtain the icing behavior and ice-plugging effect along the length direction of a hole in the concrete. Then, the cracking characteristics of concrete with holes under freeze–thaw cycles are mastered by performing rapid freeze–thaw tests on concrete with holes and observing the cracked section. The reason why concrete does not crack immediately under theoretical frost heave force is also revealed. Finally, this paper proposes that hydrophobic filling materials can alleviate the frost heave stress on concrete. The findings of this work reveal the mechanism for the frost cracking of concrete with holes and put forward preventive measures, having guiding significance for eliminating the risk of freeze–thaw cracking.