Mechanical Characteristics of Concrete Exposed to External Flexural Load, De-Icing Salt and Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Abstract

This paper investigates mechanical characteristics of concrete exposed to external flexural load, de-icing salt and freeze-thaw cycles. Concrete specimens made with ordinary Portland cement or ordinary Portland cement incorporating fly ash with the replacement of 10% or 20%, or 0.7/10000 air-entraining agent and 20% fly ash, or ground blast furnace slag with the replacement of 15% or 30%, were made and exposed to flexural load, freeze-thaw and de-icing salt environment. Mechanical properties of concrete including compressive strength and flexural strength were measured. Phase composition of samples was determined by means of x-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicate that increasing flexural stress ratios reduced compressive strength and flexural strength of concrete, and presented higher improvement of mineral admixtures in concrete strength. Incorporation of mineral admixtures and air-entraining agent decreased the loss of concrete strength. X-ray diffraction analysis showed the presence of abundant calcium chloroaluminate and ettringite in paste samples.