The Effect of Mineral Admixtures on Mechanical Properties of High Performance Concrete at very Low Temperature

The effect of very low temperature on high performance concrete (HPC) mechanical properties is studied by using a reasonable testing method. The results show that the compressive strengths of concrete are increasing with lower temperatures. Fly ash (FA), compared to ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), is positive to the compressive strength increasing at low temperature. The splitting tensile strengths of concrete appear a maximum at-40°C~-80°C. The compound replacement by GGBFS and FA makes the splitting tensile strength present the extreme value at higher temperature. At very low temperature, the single or compound replacement by mineral admixtures can result in the difference of the relationship between compressive strength and splitting tensile strength, and the degradation of concrete subjected to cold-thermal shocks.