Freeze-Thaw Durability of Concrete Materials

Concrete structures in cold climates are subject to cyclic temperature fluctuations that induce internal ice formation and thawing, leading to progressive deterioration. During freezing, pore water expands, generating hydraulic pressure that can cause microcracking, loss of stiffness and scaling of surface mortar. Thawing permits ingress of additional moisture and de-icing agents, which exacerbate deterioration through salt crystallisation and chemical reactions. The durability of concrete under such conditions depends on its pore structure, cementitious matrix composition and the presence of entrained air or supplementary cementitious materials. Effective mitigation strategies include optimising air-entrainment, refining pore size distribution, incorporating fibres or pozzolans and adopting surface treatments. Understanding the interplay between mechanical loading, environmental exposures and microstructural changes is essential for designing long-lived infrastructure in cold regions and ensuring resilience in road pavements, bridge decks and hydraulic structures.

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Freeze-Thaw Durability of Concrete Materials publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in freeze-thaw durability of concrete materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Freeze-thaw cycle: A repeated sequence of water freezing in concrete pores and subsequent thawing, causing internal pressure and microcracking.

Salt scaling: Surface flaking of mortar or paste due to cyclic freezing in the presence of de-icing salts, which lower freezing point and induce crystallisation pressure.

Alkali-silica reaction (ASR): A deleterious chemical interaction between alkalis in cement pore solution and reactive silica in aggregates, forming expansive gel.

Dynamic modulus of elasticity: A measure of concrete stiffness under cyclic loading, indicative of internal damage and integrity after freeze-thaw exposure.

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC): A cementitious composite with very low water-to-cement ratio, high fibre content and enhanced mechanical and durability properties.

References

1. Salt scaling resistance of pre-cracked ultra-high performance concrete with the coupling of salt freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles. Cement and Concrete Composites (2024).
2. Computational Modeling of Combined Frost Damage and Alkali-Silica Reaction on the Durability and Fatigue Life of RC Bridge Decks. Journal of Intelligent Construction (2023).
3. Impact of Freeze–Thaw Cycles on the Long-Term Performance of Concrete Pavement and Related Improvement Measures: A Review. Materials (2022).