Minimization of the Stresses Generated by ICE Formation in Concrete

University Of California-Berkeley, Berkeley CA

Investigators

Abstract

Ice formation in concrete is the cause of millions of dollars in damage to concrete structures in cold regions every. This proposal takes advantage of new sophisticated characterization techniques to develop a holistic program. At a microscopic level, neutron diffraction will be used to determine the content of freezable water in the cementitious matrix, and to determine the in-situ stress and strain field in the matrix as it freezes. At a meso level, high resolution low-temperature scanning electron microscopy will be employed to study the air-void morphology as affected by the type of chemical admixtures and to characterize the nucleation sites of ice crystallization. . At the macro level, large concrete samples will be used to validate the observations learned at the micro and meso level.