The Assessment of Prediction Methodology of Concrete Freezing and Thawing Resistance

Investigation was performed in order to determine whether the predicted frost resistance of concrete in cycles, while using porosity parameters, corresponds to the number of cycles determined experimentally. The porosity parameters of concrete were determined by measuring kinetics of water absorption. The number of concrete freezing and thawing cycles was predicted by a method proposed by Sheikin, according to porosity parameters of concrete. Frost resistance of concrete was determined by using volumetric method of freezing. It was found, that depending on kinetics of water absorption and composition of concrete, closed porosity of concrete varies within the limits from 3.51 % to 10.62 %, open porosity of concrete varies within the limits from 10.96 % to 15.09 %, and predicted number of frost resistance of concrete in cycles varies within the limits from 550 to 1000. After volumetric freezing of concrete samples, according to predicted number freezing and thawing cycles, it can be stated, that concrete with fine aggregate did pass predicted number of cycles, but concrete with coarse aggregate did not. In this case, predicted criterion  K F of concrete of freezing and thawing resistance proposed by Sheikin, should be corrected by supplementing it with additional coefficient. The coefficient could be related to the concentration of fine aggregate from the total amount of aggregate. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.18.4.3105