Project Freeze - Thaw

Study and comparison of different test methods to determine the resistance of concrete to freeze-thaw cycles following the CEN/TS 12390-9, ISO/DIS 4846-2 and the Probéton NTN-018 - Freeze-Thaw

Generalities  

Final aim of this research: Determination the freezing resistance criteria of concrete

Interest: Normative – Test Methods

Summary  

Belgium is a large user of concrete for the construction of roads and building structures.

As such, the National Research Centers take interest since a long time in the problem of concrete aggression in contact with deicing salts. To evaluate this aggression, the Belgian researchers use two different test methods: on one hand the one described in the technical note NTN-018 and on the other hand the one of the ISO-DIS 4846 document. This last one is used as a reference in the working documents of the different Regions.

However, since 2006, a technical specification CEN/TS 12390-9 aims to render mandatory the utilization of one the three following methods: the SLAB-Test (as reference method), the CUBE-Test and the CF-CDF Test (as alternative methods).

Comparing the documents of these 5 methods (2 nationals and 3 European), we observe differences like the temperature cycles, the dimensions of the samples, the electrolytes, the conservation of the specimens, …

This leads to an important research topic in which different types of concrete are submitted to the five methods in order to obtain propositions for normative recommendations.

Further information  

  • Start of the project : 1/02/2005
  • Expectec end: 30/06/2009
  • Partners : CRR and KUL
  • Funded by: Federal