Effect of rubber particles and steel fibers on frost resistance of roller compacted concrete in potassium acetate solution

Abstract

In this paper, the frost resistance of roller compacted concrete (RCC) mixed with rubber particles and steel fibers was investigated, 25% (by weight) potassium acetate (KAc) solution was the medium in freeze-thaw cycles. The mass loss, relative dynamic elastic modulus, microstructures, and pore structures were measured. The results show the accumulated mass loss is the greatest and up to 155.17 g/m2 after 300 freeze-thaw cycles in KAc solution when the rubber particles and the steel fibers are added at the same time. If the later hydration of cement is not considered, the improvement effect of the steel fibers and the rubber particles on the reduction of the relative dynamic elastic modulus is also not obvious. The addition of the rubber particles and the steel fibers does not effectively reduce the cracking caused by 300 freeze-thaw cycles in KAc solution because microcracks are observed in all specimens. The incorporation of the steel fibers and the rubber particles also cannot effectively reduce the increase of porosity caused by 300 freeze-thaw cycles in KAc solution.