Methods for Assessing the Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Road Concrete Used in our Country and at European Level

Abstract

Abstract The paper addresses three methods of assessing the freeze-thaw resistance of road concretes prepared with conventional and artificial materials. The blast furnace slag was used, as an artificial material, in granulated and milled form and in the form of crushed aggregates from the steel industry. The most common method used in our country to determine the freeze-thaw resistance is the destructive method by measuring the variation of the compressive strength of the samples subjected to repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The most severe method of testing the freeze resistance considered at the European level, is based on the calculation of the amount of exfoliated material in the presence of defrosting agents. Another method used is to determine the values of the dynamic modulus of elasticity after repeated cycles of freeze-thaw. The results obtained were interpreted according to different evaluation criteria and compared with limit values proposed by the standardized methods.