Effect of the freezing rate on the frost resistance of concrete

A limited literature survey shows that there is no univocal relation between the freezing rate in an unsealed test and the amount of frost damage. A theoretical analysis shows that the effect of the freezing rate on the destructive forces occurring during a sealed test is very limited, if any. This is also confirmed experimentally by tests in which the effect of the freezing rate on the critical degree of saturation is studied and found to be negligible. Therefore, the different and opposing effects of the freezing rate that have been observed in unsealed tests are no doubt mainly caused by the effect that the shape of the freeze/thaw cycle has on the maximum water content that is reached in the specimen during the test. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 851601.