STUDIES OF 'SALT' SCALING OF CONCRETE

THE SERVICE RECORD OF AIR-ENTRAINED CONCRETE PAVEMENTS EXPOSED TO DE-ICING SALTS IS EXCELLENT. HOWEVER, THE MECHANISM BY WHICH DE-ICERS CAUSE OR ACCELERATE SURFACE SCALING OF NON-AIR-ENTRAINED CONCRETE IS UNKNOWN. FURTHERMORE, THERE IS AN INCOMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF WHY ENTRAINED AIR IS BENEFICIAL IN THIS REGARD. ALTHOUGH FIELD EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT AIR ENTRAINMENT IS A PRACTICAL REMEDY FOR SURFACE SCALING, SOME LABORATORY TESTS INDICATE THAT UNDER CERTAIN EXTREMELY SEVERE CONDITIONS ENTRAINED AIR DOES NOT GIVE COMPLETE PROTECTION. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY IS TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THE EFFECT OF TYPE AND CONCENTRATION OF DE-ICER, CURING CONDITION OF CONCRETE, AIR ENTRAINMENT, AND OTHER VARIABLES ON THE SURFACE SCALING OF CONCRETE. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD LEAD TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECT OF THESE VARIATIONS AND SHOULD BE OF ASSISTANCE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FURTHER REMEDIAL MEASURES. /AUTHOR/