Technical Papers
Jan 21, 2021

Effects of Air-Entraining Admixtures on Stability of Air Bubbles in Concrete

Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 4

Abstract

Effects of synthetic and neutralized vinsol resin (NVR) air-entraining admixtures (AEAs) were compared through air-content measurements of freshly mixed concrete, hardened cylinders, and cores from field and laboratory concrete, and through a modified foam drainage test. The results show that air bubbles entrained with synthetic AEAs are less likely to survive during concrete sampling procedures than those entrained with NVR-based AEAs, leading to larger discrepancies between air-content measurements using the pressure method and the air content established from pavement cores. These discrepancies in turn can prompt imposition of contractor penalties, delays in construction, and controversy with potential longer-term impacts on concrete pavement longevity.

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Data Availability Statement

All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Wisconsin Highway Research Program (Grant No. WisDOT SPR# 0092-14-05), and the extensive help and collaboration of the staff of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association. Collaboration of participating paving contractors during the field research were greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer

This research was funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) in the interest of information exchange. The material presented is the result of research done under the auspices of the Department and the Wisconsin Highway Research Program (WHRP). The contents of this publication reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the correct use of brand names, and for the accuracy, analysis and any inferences drawn from the information reported. WisDOT and Federal Highway Administration (it is part of USDOT) assume no liability for its contents and use thereof. This publication does not endorse or approve any commercial product, even though trade names may be cited, does not reflect official views or policies of the Department or FHWA (USDOT), and does not constitute a standard specification or regulation of the Department or FHWA.

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Information & Authors

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Published In

Go to Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33Issue 4April 2021

History

Received: Feb 24, 2020
Accepted: Aug 13, 2020
Published online: Jan 21, 2021
Published in print: Apr 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jun 21, 2021

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Authors

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Associate, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., 330 Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062 (corresponding author). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6348-4204. Email: [email protected]
Steven M. Cramer, F.ASCE [email protected]
Vice-Provost for Teaching and Learning and Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706. Email: [email protected]

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