Durability of reactive powder concrete under chloride-salt freeze-thaw cycling

The corrosion of reinforcements that results from chloride iron erosion and freeze-thaw damage is the key cause of concrete material failure. Indoor accelerated freeze-thaw cycling tests on reactive powder concrete are carried out in this study, and the mass-loss rate ( MLR), relative dynamic-elastic modulus ( RDEM), and compressive strength are measured in order to evaluate its durability. In addition, the microstructure and composition of the reactive powder concrete during the chloride-salt freeze-thaw cycles were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and mercury-intrusion porosimetry. The results show that the reactive powder concrete was durable under chloride freeze-thaw cycling. Furthermore, the values of MLR and RDEM indicated that the actual method is not suitable for reactive powder concrete and should be modified, and that ettringite-type erosion products are generated during the freeze-thaw cycles. The conclusions in this study are valid for specific reactive powder concrete mix.