Use of a highly dispersed chalk additive for the production of concrete for transport structures

Abstract

The concretes used for transport infrastructure facilities are exposed to the active impact of corrosive environment; therefore, such concretes face raised demands as for water repellency, frost resistance and corrosion resistance. These properties can be improved due to the use of additives that have a different kind of effect. This research paper gives consideration to the influence of added highly-dispersed chalk on the physical and mechanical properties of concrete, in particular, water repellency and frost resistance. Experimental data show that the doping of highly-dispersed chalk results in a reduced water repellency and an increased frost-resistance of concrete. The basic physical and mechanical properties of concretes depend on the structure with a special particle packing of the matrix in the interlayers between the structure –forming elements of each level. Assumingly, the influence of added highly-dispersedchalk on the water-repellency and frost-resistance of pavement concrete is conditioned by the optimal arrangement of chalk particles (matrix particles) in the interlayers between the cement particles and the filler (structure-forming elements).