Deicer salt-scaling resistance of non-air-entrained roller-compacted concrete pavements

This paper investigates the effects of various pozzolans on the fresh and hardened performance of non-air-entraining, roller-compacted concrete pavement. Deicer salt-scaling resistance of the specimens was evaluated for freeze–thaw cycle conditions with either a long or a short freezing period. Water–cement ratios were 0.36 and 0.43. Natural pozzolan, fly ash and silica fume were used as partial replacements for the cement, by 8%, 20%, and 20%, respectively. The results showed that the pozzolans generally improved the consistency of the mixtures compared with reference samples. Introducing silica fume improved compressive strength and, particularly, salt-scaling resistance of the specimens. Salt scaling decreased as the duration of the freeze period in the freeze–thaw cycle decreased.

Research highlights
► Fly ash improved consistency of the RCCP mixtures more effectively than other pozzolans.
► Silica fume increased both compressive strength and salt-scaling resistance of the mixtures.
► As the freezing period increased to 18 h, the scaling rate increased considerably.