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Freeze–thaw resistance of sprayed concrete in tunnel linings

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Abstract

Freeze–thaw exposure of wet-mix sprayed concrete for permanent tunnel linings is characterized by thermal and moisture gradients between wet temperate rock mass/concrete and cold dry concrete/air surface. Hardened sprayed concrete with water/binder ratios in the range of 0.45–0.47 has been studied. The standard freeze/thaw tests like e.g. salt frost scaling according to CEN/TS 12390-9 and rapid freeze/thaw cycling according to ASTM C666 represent much more severe exposure conditions than the worst possible cases in tunnel linings. The sprayed concrete did not pass the salt frost scaling test with 3 % NaCl and rapid freeze/thaw cycling in water but showed no deleterious freezing dilation during sealed freezing following 4–6 months submersion in water. The porosity characteristics, air void content, spacing factor and protective pore factor also indicate a certain freeze–thaw resistance. A new functional performance freezing test method simulating the moisture and freezing gradient exposure conditions in a tunnel lining in a more realistic manner is presented. Reproducible cyclic freeze–thaw exposure during the different test series was measured. Frost damage was measured by resonant frequency on disc shaped specimens prepared from the core sample after gradient frost exposure. The new gradient frost method also indicates frost durability at full capillary saturation on concrete that deteriorated in salt frost scaling- and rapid freeze/thaw tests. The findings of this study suggest that the sprayed concrete in a sprayed concrete lining structure waterproofed with membrane based on ethyl-vinyl-acetate copolymer, is not prone to freeze–thaw damage under the tested moisture and thermal conditions.

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Acknowledgments

Mrs Maren Kristine Tandberg is acknowledged for having conducted a substantial part of the testing according to ASTM C666 procedure A and participating in developing the tunnel lining freezing test method. Mrs Bente McGonnell at the laboratory of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration is acknowledged for having conducted the salt scaling testing according to CEN-TS 12390-9. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the Norwegian National Rail Administration’s site organizations at the E6-highway & Dovre rail line joint project, the E39 Harangen highway tunnel project and the Gevingås rail tunnel are acknowledged for having made locations available for the construction, monitoring and sample preparation for this study. Finally the Norwegian National Rail Administration, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, BASF Construction Chemicals Europe AG, Orica International Ltd are acknowledged for financial support for this research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Mineral Resources Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælands vei 1, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Karl Gunnar Holter

  2. Department of Structural Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Richard Birkelands vei 1, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Sverre Smeplass & Stefan Jacobsen

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  1. Karl Gunnar Holter
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  2. Sverre Smeplass
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Correspondence to Karl Gunnar Holter.

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Holter, K.G., Smeplass, S. & Jacobsen, S. Freeze–thaw resistance of sprayed concrete in tunnel linings. Mater Struct 49, 3075–3093 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0705-4

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