SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1982
STP30112S

Volume Change Due to Freezing in Plastic Masonry Mortar

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Scandinavian researchers have identified reduction of moisture content to 6 percent and sufficient prehardening as conditions under which mortar in masonry walls will withstand early freezing without damage. This paper reports the results of a study in which volume changes due to freezing were measured in mortars to assess these conclusions for Canadian masonry materials. Volume changes in mortar samples encased in a rubber balloon immersed in alcohol in a cylinder connected to a calibrated capillary were measured as the temperature was lowered through the freezing zone. The effect of variable moisture contents and setting times for a 1:1:6 cement-lime mortar and a 1:3 masonry-cement mortar were studied. It was found that freezing expansions of the order of 2 percent for cement-lime mortar control samples dropped sharply after a setting time of 4 h and virtually disappeared at 16 h. Expansions of 1.25 percent in masonry-cement control mortars decreased to negligible values after a setting time of 4 h. Reductions to 6 percent moisture content reduced freezing expansions to negligible values for both mortars, although problems were encountered in bringing moisture contents down to 6 percent. The possible application of the results to field conditions is discussed.

Author Information

Davison, JI
Division of Building Research, National Research Council of Canada, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Details
Developed by Committee: C12
Pages: 27–37
DOI: 10.1520/STP30112S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4843-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0610-9