Minimization of the Stresses Generated by ICE Formation in Concrete

在寒冷地区，混凝土中的冰形成是造成数百万美元混凝土结构损坏的原因。 该提案利用新的复杂表征技术来开发整体方案。 在微观水平上，中子衍射将用于确定水泥基质中可冻结水的含量，并确定基质冻结时的原位应力和应变场。 在中观层次上，高分辨率低温扫描电子显微镜将被用来研究受化学外加剂类型影响的空气空隙形态，并表征冰结晶的成核位点。 . 在宏观一级，将使用大型混凝土样本来验证微观和中观一级的观测结果。

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.