FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH ON THE DETERIORATION DEPTH IN CONCRETE SUBJECTED TO FREEZE AND THAW

In conventional accelerated tests all sides of specimen are exposed to Freeze and Thaw, whereas in actual concrete structures only one side would be exposed. This paper reports the experimental results by limiting the exposure to one side only, which is more similar to the actual condition. We took plain concrete without AE agent as an object of this study. In this paper, we reveal that 1) there is some discrepancy between the measured deterioration depth of one side test and the prediction results by conventional tests at the same lowest temperature; and 2) whereas the result of the conventional tests overestimates Freeze and Thaw durability in the inside, underestimates the durability of the surface on the tested side. This discrepancy is almost likely caused by the strain gradient along the specimen which induces a self-equilibrating set of forces.