The Performance Evolution Characteristics of In-situ Concrete at the Permafrost Regions

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the performance evolution characteristics of concrete under permafrost ambient temperatures and to explore methods to mitigate the thermal perturbation by concrete on the permafrost environment. A program was designed to investigate the properties of various concretes at three curing conditions. The compressive strength development pattern of each group was evaluated and the concrete’s performance was characterized by compressive strength damage degree, hydration temperature and SEM analysis in a low temperature environment. The experimental results show that the incorporation of fly ash alone or incombination with other admixtures in concrete under low-temperature curing does not deteriorate its microstructure, and at the same time, it can slow down the hydration rate of cement and significantly reduce the exothermic heat of hydration of concrete. These findings are expected to provide valuable references for the proportioning design of concrete in permafrost environments.

Keywords

permafrost ambient / mineral admixture / compressive strength / hydration temperature / damage degree

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