An experiment was conducted to determine the resistance of absorptive sound barriers to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing. Testing was performed on two absorptive sound barrier samples of porousconcrete on one side of the panel and normal concrete on the other.Embedded only in the surface of the porous concrete were 1-in smooth aggregate pieces. The two concretes differed in such properties asstrength, mix proportions, and density. The details of the tests and results are presented. It was found that the resistance of the porous concrete specimens to freeze/thaw conditions was poor and resulted in considerable loss of section. Such porous concrete samples were determined to be unsuitable as absorptive sound barriers in situations where they will be subjected to repeated freeze/thaw cycles.
Abstract