Journal Published Online: 30 December 2016
Volume 5, Issue 2

Super Air Meter for Assessing Air-Void System of Fresh Concrete

CODEN: ACEMF9

Abstract

A key factor for freeze-thaw durability of concrete is the air void system; nevertheless, the current test methods for fresh concrete only allow for determination of total air content. There is a need for a fresh concrete test method capable of indicating that air void size and distribution are adequate. In an attempt to address this need, a new test method based on the super air meter (SAM) was developed by Ley and Tabb. This paper presented an investigation of the air void system of 64 mixtures, employing standard fresh and hardened concrete test methods, as well as the SAM test method. The study focused on mixtures with three different coarse aggregates, three air entraining admixtures, different total air contents levels, and slumps below 3 in. (75 mm), typical of paving concrete. Freeze-thaw tests were carried out on some of the mixtures with marginal air content. Data from this study at the Federal Highway Administration's Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center Laboratory showed that the SAM test of fresh concrete was able to provide an indication of air void adequacy in low-slump air entrained concrete; a SAM number of 0.20 psi (1.4 kPa) or above identified mixtures with poor spacing factor. However, a limit of 4.0 % fresh air content was also able to identify these mixtures as a good correlation between air content and spacing factor was found.

Author Information

Tanesi, J.
SES Group and Associates, Chesapeake City, MD, US
Kim, H.
SES Group and Associates, Chesapeake City, MD, US
Beyene, M.
SES Group and Associates, Chesapeake City, MD, US
Ardani, A.
FHWA, Washington, D.C., US
Pages: 16
Price: $25.00
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Stock #: ACEM20150009
ISSN: 2165-3984
DOI: 10.1520/ACEM20150009