In a pooled fund project for the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) developed an antifreeze concrete for highway paving at subfreezing temperatures. Formulations were produced with off-the-shelf admixtures. The antifreeze concrete allows unprotected placement and normal curing at external temperatures as low as 23 deg F. Antifreeze admixtures increase the concrete material cost but reduce the placement costs by eliminating the need for heat, shelter, and extra labor. Extending roadway construction into the colder seasons, when traffic volume is lower, offers the following benefits: reducing the adverse impact of construction on the public; decreasing the number of work zone accidents; and improving the utilization of construction equipment and labor by extending the seasonal limits of construction work.
Abstract