Journal of Cold Regions Engineering

Service life of reinforced concrete structures exposed to chloride ions is closely related to the rate of chloride ion diffusion through the concrete. The determination of the apparent chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete takes into account the chloride-binding capacity but not the effect of temperature on the chloride-binding capacity. This paper examines the effect of temperature ranging from 22°C to –3°C on the chloride-binding capacity for cement paste containing varying percentages of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) as cement replacement. This study adopts the Freundlich isotherm form of the chloride-binding isotherm as a function of temperature. Both the experimental and modeled results indicate a nonlinear relationship between the exposure temperature and the chloride-binding capacity for cement paste containing 0–60% GGBFS as cement replacement. The order of chloride-binding capacity as a function of exposure temperature is as follows: $22°\mathrm{C}>-3°\mathrm{C}>13°\mathrm{C}>5°\mathrm{C}$. The order of chloride-binding capacity as a function of the percentage of GGBFS as cement replacement is as follows: $60\%>50\%>25\%>0\%$. Service life estimates of reinforced concrete structures in cold climates that are exposed to deicer salts are not conservative if based on chloride-binding capacity evaluated at 22°C.

This article outlines the combined effects of saltwater and water flow on deterioration of concrete under freezing and thawing cycles. In order to simulate the real freezing situation that concrete usually undergoes, four sets of experimental exposure conditions were designed. These exposure conditions include plain flowing water, flowing saltwater, still plain water, and still saltwater. Two types of concrete samples with different water–cement ratios were prepared. Weight and compressive strength of the samples were measured before and after the freeze–thaw cycles, and the results were analyzed. Based on the results, quantitative damage models were developed to predict mass loss and compressive strength loss. The results showed that water flow accelerates the deterioration of concrete and that the combined effects of saltwater and water flow are more severe and cause rapid deterioration.

Blowing snow or sand transport generates serious problems, such as transport infrastructures buried under snow or sand, in many parts of the world. Some of the most important problems that snow and sand storms can cause include drivers trapped on the roads, indefinite traffic delays, accidents, and isolated populations. Snow fences provide a solution to this problem because they hold back the snow, preventing displacement and wind-induced drifting. In this way, they reduce these problems on transport infrastructures and improve visibility, providing safer driving conditions. In this review, a classification is proposed of snow fences into three basic types: earth, structural, and living snow fences. Among the structural fences, nonporous and porous snow fences are distinguished. The different possibilities in terms of the placement of snow fences are also analyzed. Finally, different types of snow fences have been compared under design, construction, and operation criteria. This review can provide initial guidelines for technicians to choose the best snow fence for blizzard conditions.

This paper deals with measurements of the elastic modulus and the flexural strength of sea ice collected at nine sites in the Bohai Sea in the two consecutive winters of 2008–2010. Experimental results show that both elastic modulus and flexural strength increase with a decrease of brine volume and have an exponential relationship with brine volume. The elastic modulus is independent of stress rate, but the flexural strength increases linearly with the increase of stress rate. This paper presents a single-parameter (i.e., brine volume) exponential equation for the elastic modulus and a two-parameter (i.e., brine volume and stress rate) exponential equation for the flexural strength, respectively. Finally, the relationship between the elastic modulus and the flexural strength is discussed.

This technical note presents measurements of ultrasonic velocities of compressional and shear waves in frozen ground-rubber-sand mixtures at various mixing ratios and subfreezing temperatures. Test results showed that ultrasonic velocities of compressional and shear waves increased with descending temperature, while the addition of rubber decreased both the compressional- and shear-wave velocity; namely, the higher the rubber content in the mixture, the lower the measured ultrasonic wave velocity. Based on the elastic wave theory and measured ultrasonic wave velocities, the dynamic elastic properties were determined. The results indicate that the elastic properties of rubber-mixed sand change with temperature and rubber-mixing ratio. The dynamic elastic modulus and dynamic shear modulus increased with a decrease in temperature. The deformation characteristics and rigidity of the frozen mixtures can be controlled with the addition of ground rubber to sand. The Poisson’s ratios ranged between 0.34 and 0.20.