Ice Formation Mechanisms in Normal and High-Performance Concrete Mixtures
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 12, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper presents a critical analysis of the mechanisms of ice formation in high-performance materials. The process of ice formation in ordinary and high-performance concrete mixtures is first investigated by low-temperature calorimetry. Three concrete mixtures (with water-to-cement ratios of 0.25, 0.35, and 0.45) were prepared and tested. The mechanisms of ice formation were also studied from a theoretical point of view using a numerical model. In this analysis, special attention is placed on the phenomenon of solid/liquid interface propagation. Test results indicate that a reduction of the water-to-cement ratio contributes to refine the concrete pore structure and limit the amount of ice formed between 0 and −55°C. However, low-temperature measurements and theoretical calculations show that it is hardly possible to totally impede ice formation in cement-based materials. According to both types of analysis, ice formation in high-performance concrete mixtures is most certainly initiated by the propagation of a solid/liquid interface.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 12 • Issue 1 • February 2000
Pages: 16 - 23
History
Received: Aug 18, 1999
Published online: Feb 1, 2000
Published in print: Feb 2000
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