Thermal Incompatibility of Concrete Components and Thermal Properties of Carbonate Rocks

Abstract

Thermal imcompatibility of concrete components (TICC) occurs when aggregate of low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is used - and carbonate rocks often have low CTE. Carbonate rocks are also often thermally non homogeneous. A new merhod of measuring CTE of nonhomogeneous rocks wich has been tested in the last few years is proposed. It simultaneously gives results on thermal anistoropy of specimens, nonlinear relationship of strains and temperature, and residual strains after cyclic temperature changes, all of which are very important properties with respect to TICC. How to evaluate the degree of each of these thermal properties of rocks is also proposed. All of these considerations are illustrated with results of measurements on limestones from three quarries, which were used as aggregate for some bridges that deteriorated in less than 10 years of service in a rather hostile environment.