This report documents and presents the results of a field study of the durability of portland cement concrete highway wearing surfaces containing high-range water-reducing admixtures. Durability surveys were carried out on 12 structures ranging from 4 to 12 years of age. These structures included highway bridge decks, bridge deck overlays, and pavements. The total area affected by very light to moderate scaling was minor, amounting to less than 4 percent of the area surveyed. Less than 1/2 percent was characterized by medium to heavy scaling, where coarse aggregate particles were significantly exposed. A three-parameter performance model including water-cement ratio, amount of entrained air removed from the surface, and air-void spacing factor was developed and offered reasonable correlation with the field observations. The findings of the study indicate that high quality, durable concrete can be produced using high-range water-reducing admixtures.
Abstract