Performance of Concrete Pavement Incorporating Portland Limestone Cement in Cold Weather

Abstract

The City of Winnipeg (COW) and the University of Manitoba (UM), Canada, have partnered since 2015 to conduct research on the use of portland limestone cement (PLC), comprising up to 15% limestone filler, in transportation infrastructure such as pavements and bridges. Laboratory tests have substantiated the equivalent or superior resistance of concrete made from PLC, relative to that made from general use (GU) cement (Type I) to durability exposures including acids, sulfate salts and chloride-based deicing salts. Subsequently, a field trial was done in 2018, which involved casting two concrete pavement sections made from PLC and GU cement in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The current paper reports on the construction and long-term (three years/winter seasons) properties of these pavement sections including fresh properties, strength, absorption and chloride ions penetrability, as well as microstructural features. Cores were taken from mid-slabs and at joints, which are the most vulnerable locations to damage in concrete pavements. The field trial results showed that concrete pavement sections made with PLC had equivalent or superior performance compared with those made of GU in terms of fresh, hardened and durability properties. Thus, it presents a viable option for sustainable construction of concrete flatwork in cold regions.