Abstract
This paper presents the results of an experimental program aimed at the assessment of the freeze–thaw (F–T) resistance of concrete based on the evaluation of fracture tests accompanied by acoustic emission measurements. Two concretes of similar mechanical characteristics were manufactured for the experiment. The main difference between the C1 and C2 concrete was in the total number of air voids and in the A300 parameter, where both parameters were higher for C1 by about 35% and 52%, respectively. The evaluation of the fracture characteristics was performed on the basis of experimentally recorded load–deflection and load–crack mouth opening displacement diagrams using two different approaches: linear fracture mechanics completed with the effective crack model and the double-K model. The results show that both approaches gave similar results, especially if the nonlinear behavior before the peak load was considered. According to the results, it can be stated that continuous AE measurement is beneficial for the assessment of the extent of concrete deterioration, and it suitably supplements the fracture test evaluation. A comparison of the results of fracture tests with the resonance method and splitting tensile strength test shows that all testing methods led to the same conclusion, i.e., the C1 concrete was more F–T-resistant than C2. However, the fracture test evaluation provided more detailed information about the internal structure deterioration due to the F–T exposure.
Highlights
Concrete belongs to the most common building materials used in various civil engineering applications
It can be stated that the freeze–thaw (F–T) resistance of concrete expresses the resistance of the concrete to the interaction of all physical, mechanical, and fracture processes that act together at one moment
This presented results oftested an experimental program at the the performed experimental–numerical analysis test indicate the high potential of employing of F–T
Summary
Concrete belongs to the most common building materials used in various civil engineering applications. The world produces about 4.4 billion tons of concrete annually, of which a substantial portion is consumed for the construction of transportation networks with strict requirements for their durability. This means that, in addition to basic strength and deformation parameters, the characteristics related to water, air permeability, and cracking tendency are strictly monitored under different weather conditions. The alternation of positive and negative temperatures (freeze–thaw cycles) is considered one of the most destructive processes that substantially influence the durability of concrete structures [1]. The rate of the deterioration of the concrete structure depends on the number of F–T cycles, as well as on the absolute values of alternating temperatures
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