Frost action

Dunn, J. R. and Hudec, P. P. (1972). Frost and sorbtion effects in argillaceous rocks. In "Frost action in Soils." Highway Research Board, Natl. Acad. Sci.-Natl. Acad. Eng. 393, 65-78. 

When concrete is to be placed in cold weather, it is preferable that accelerators or antifreezers be used in combination with air-entraining agents and water-reducing admixtures. These combinations not only reduce the amount of freezable water in the mix but also generally reduce the quantity of antifreezers and accelerators needed to obtain desired effects compared to the amounts that have to be used when these are used separately. In addition these combinations may be useful in increasing the resistance of concrete to frost action and to corrosive agents. 

It has sometimes been argued that concrete is seldom damaged by frost action if low water-cement ratio mixes are used. However, the paramount effect of air entrainment in improving freeze-thaw resistance was clearly demonstrated in a study of the freeze-thaw resistance of both air-entrained and non-air-entrained superplasticized concrete with low water-cement... 

In sulphur concretes, the mechanism of deterioration caused by frost action has been attributed to entirely different causes to those above. The material has low permeability to moisture and as water is not used in mixing, it was not considered that water played a major role in deterioration. Sulphur has a very high coefficient of thermal expansion (a - 55 x 10 6/°C) and low thermal conductivity (0.27 W/m K). Hence the poor durability performance in cyclical freezing and thawing has been attributed to the development of high stresses due to thermal gradients (5,... 

Washburn, A.L. (1969) Desert varnish. In Washburn, A.L. (Ed.) Weathering, Frost Action and Patterned Ground in the Mesters District, Northeast Greenland. Copenhagen Reitzels, pp. 14—15. 

The action of freezing occurs mainly in capillary pore water. In fact, the gel pores are so small that they do not allow freezing, unless the temperature falls below —35 °C [3]. On the other hand, spaces of larger dimensions (above all, those introduced intentionally using air-entraining admixtures) are generally filled by air and, at least initially, are not affected by frost action. 

Novak EJ, Defrain LE (1992) Seasonal changes in longitudinal profile of pavements subject to frost action. Transp Res Rec 1362 95... 

Under long-term outdoor exposure, involving frost action and car-bonation, latex-modified mortar shows increased resistance to weathering in comparison with conventional mortar and concrete. The weatherability of the latex-modified mortars is shown in Fig. 4.69The exposure test was done at the Building Research Institute Outdoor Exposure Site in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Except for PVAC-modified mortars, the flexural and compressive strengths of most latex-modified mortars under outdoor exposure conditions tend to become nearly constant at one year or more, and a weatherability factor is greater or similar to that of unmodified mortar. 

The rate of chemical weathering is increased by elevated environmental temperatures and high rates of meteoric precipitation. However, temperature and precipitation are not the only parameters that affect the rate of chemical weathering. Other factors that come into play in certain enviromnents are frost action and glacial grinding, both of which increase the surface areas of rocks and minerals that are exposed to water. In addition, the presence of salt in the soil and on rock surfaces accelerates chemical weathering in the ice-free... 

Edge cracking is caused by insufficient pavement support owing to one or more of the following reasons poor compaction, shrinkage, poor drainage or frost action of surrounding/... 

Frost action in a soil is influenced by the initial temperature of the soil, as well as the air temperature the intensity and duration of the freeze period the depth of frost penetration the depth of the water table and the type of ground cover. If frost penetrates down to the capillary fringe in fine soils, especially silts, then, under certain conditions, lenses of ice may be developed. The formation of such ice lenses may, in turn, cause frost heave and frost boil that may lead to the break-up of roads, the failure of slopes, etc. Shrinkage, which is attributable to thermal contraction and desiccation, gives rise to polygonal cracking in the ground. Water that accumulates in the cracks is frozen and consequently helps increase their size. This action may lead to the development of lenses of ice. 

It is generally accepted in the case of building stone deterioration that physical weathering is a factor influencing the rate of deterioration Hence buildings subject to frequent temperatures around freezing point will deteriorate more rapidly due to frost action than those in warmer climates ... 

Sodium Sulphate. See salt cake. Sodium Sulphate Test. A test claimed to indicate the resistance of a clay building material to frost action. The test-piece is soaked in a saturated solution of sodium sulphate and is then drained and dried the cycle is repeated and the test-piece is examined for cracks after each drying. The principle underlying the test is that the stresses caused by the expansion of sodium sulphate as it crystallizes are, to some extent, similar to the stresses caused by water as it freezes. The test... 

Results of the work of TC 176-IDC Internal damage of concrete due to frost action was published in RILEM (2004). 

Under long-term outdoor exposure, involving frost action and car-bonation, latex-modified mortar shows increased resistance to weathering in comparison with conventional mortar and concrete. The weatherability of the latex-modified mortars is shown in Fig. The exposure test was... 

Grouping or flocculation of the particles is very important in making clay soils easy to work. Clay particles combined with calcitrm (hme) will flocculate easily, whereas those combined with sodium will not. The adhesive properties of clay are very beneficial to the soil structure when the groups of particles ate small (like cmmbs). Defiocculation can occur when clay soils are Hooded with sea water or worked when wet. If the latter occurs they become puddled and if the weather then becomes dry the clay dries into hard lumps or clods. Frost action, and... 

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