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Procedia Engineering 189 (2017) 800 – 804

Transportation Geotechnics and Geoecology, TGG 2017, 17-19 May 2017, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Concrete For Road Pavements

Tatyana Boikovaa, Dmitry Solovyova, Valentina Solovyovaa*
a
Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University (PGUPS), Moskovsky pr. 9, St. Petersburg, 190031, Russia

Abstract

To create a high performance road concrete it is advisable to use two complex additives simultaneously with the aim of increasing
concrete density, strength, hardness, corrosion resistance and durability.
A complex admixture on the basis of a mix of polycarboxylate polymers modified by inorganic substances including nanostructure
elements SiO2×nН2О which are parts of silicic acid was developed as an admixture of polyfunctional action (activating and
plasticizing actions).
To increase crack resistance and tensile strength in bending and to decrease abrasion another complex admixture on the basis of
sparingly soluble salts of magnesium modified by silica with different particle sizes was developed too.
Concrete with these two additives used in rational quantities is characterized by 58-59% increase of compressive strength and 83-
91% increase of tensile strength in bending, with coefficient of crack resistance rising by 17-20%. The concrete abrasion
corresponds to the G1grade of concrete and the concrete freeze resistance – to F 2600 grade. The concrete water absorption is
reduced by 40%. This increases the concrete density. Corrosion resistance of the modified concrete at the age of 360 days is raised
more than 15%.
The amount of sparingly soluble hydrated compounds is increased when these two additives are applied together. The concrete
designed with given additives is recommended for creation of an effective pavement.

©20177PublishedTheAuthorsbyElsevier.PublishedLtd.Thisby ElsevierisanopenLtdaccess. article under the CC BY-NC-ND license

( http://creativecommons .org/licenses/by - nc-nd/4 .0/).
Peer -reviewunderresponsibility of the scientific committee of the International conference on Transportation Geotechnics and
PeerGeoecology-reviewunder. responsibility of the scientific committee of the International conference on Transportation Geotechnics and Geoecology

Keywords: concrete, pavement, crack resistance, freeze resistance, strength, durability.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +7-921-353-0507; fax: +7-812-457-8644.

E-mail address: 9046185117@mail.ru

1877-7058 © 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International conference on Transportation Geotechnics and Geoecology
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2017.05.124
 Tatyana Boikova et al. / Procedia Engineering 189 (2017) 800 – 804 801

1. Introduction

To create a high-performance road concrete it is advisable to use two complex additives simultaneously with the
aim of increasing concrete density, corrosion resistance and durability.
A complex admixture on the basis of a mix of polycarboxylate polymers modified by inorganic substances
including nanostructure elements SiO2×nН2О, which are parts of silica sol, is used as the first admixture of
polyfunctional action (activating and plasticizing actions). The admixture has the technical name “Nanoactive-AS”.
It is also advisable to use a complex admixture on the basis of sparingly soluble salts of magnesium modified by
silica with different specific surfaces in design of road concrete on which strict requirements to crack resistance and
tensile strength in bending are imposed [1, 2]. Recommended admixture has the technical name “Nanoactive-D”. It is
a fine dry powder with a specific surface ≥600 m²/ kg. The admixture “Nanoactive-C” has a complex effect
including plasticizing and activating effects [6].
It was experimentally established that these two investigated additives have good compatibility. And when they
are used in rational quantities the increase of tensile strength in bending is much greater than the increase of
compressive strength. This ensures 17–20 % increase of the concrete crack resistance and raises durability of road
pavement [8].

2. Studies methods

To explain improved indexes of the concrete crack resistance comprehensive physical chemical studies of the
hydration products of the hardened concrete were carried out using x-ray phase analysis and differential thermal
analysis methods.
Comparative analysis of the diffraction patterns of the control mix with the “Nanoactive-AS” admixture has
shown that, while the admixture “Nanoactive-AS” is used, lines having values of d-space (3,02; 2,78; 2,60; 2,18;
1,86)×10-10 m and (2,75; 2,28; 1,98)×10-10 m, which are common with principal minerals of Portland cement such as
tricalcium silicate, 3СаО×3SiO2, and dicalcium silicate, 2СаО×3SiO2, respectively, are greatly reduced. At the same
time there are almost no lines when d/n=(4,93; 2,63; 1,93)×10 -10 m that is typical of Portlandite, CA(OH)2.
Particular attention is paid to the significant reduction of lines with d/n=(2,75; 2,28; 1,98)×10 -10 m that is typical
of С2Ѕ which is usually hydrated very slowly under normal conditions. The excessive heat appears to be generated as
a result of the concrete mix hydration hyperactivity when the “Nanoactive-AS” admixture is used. This heat is
accumulated inside the concrete mass due to the high concrete density and makes additional energy effect on
hydration activity of the concrete mix ingredients [10}.
The appearance of new peaks at d/n=(4,24; 3,84; 3,36; 3,15)×10 -10 m that are typical of gyrolite formation,
2СаО×3SiO2×2Н2О, as well as lines with d/n=(4,95; 3,25; 2,92; 2,30)×10-10 m and d/n=(5,74; 4,73; 3,19; 2,84)×10 -
10
m that are typical of the complex hydrated compound formation such as foshagite, 4СаО×3SiO 2×3Н2О, and
afwillite, 3СаО×2SiO2×3Н2О, which have higher hardness, are detected on the diffraction pattern, when the
“Nanoactive-AS” admixture is applied, and on the diffraction pattern of the concrete modified by two admixtures
“Nanoactive-AS” and “Nanoactive-D” [5].
When the “Nanoactive-AS” admixture is used peaks appear at d/n=(4,90; 3,29; 2,88)×10 -10 m that are typical of
the basic calcium carbonate formation CaCO3×CA(OH)2×1,5Н2О, and there are lines of small intensity (d/n=(5,79;
2,90; 2,15)×10-10 m) that are typical of the hydromagnesite formation MgCO 3×Mg(OH)2×3Н2О, as well as lines
appear when d/n=(3,85; 2,50; 3,55)×10-10 m that can be attributed to complex hydrated compound of magnesium
carbonate.
The appearance of these complex hydrated compounds in the hardening mix is proved by data of differential
thermal studies which are presented in Tables 1-3.
802 Tatyana Boikova et al. / Procedia Engineering 189 (2017) 800 – 804

Table 1. Effects on the thermotogram, оС.

Hardened concrete I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX

(-) (-) (-)
Control mix - - - - - -
140 196 540
Concrete with the
(-) (-) (-) (-) (-) (-) (-) (+)
admixture -
138 191 372 470 528 670 740 830
“Nanoactive-AS”
Concrete with the
(-) (-) (-) (-) (-) (-)
admixture - - -
131 183 380 522 720 820
“Nanoactive-D”
Concrete with the
admixture
(-) (-) (-) (-) (-) (-) (+) (-)
“Nanoactive-AS”+ -
127 178 386 464 683 736 838 840
the admixture
“Nanoactive-D”

Table 2. Losses during effects, %.

Hardened concrete I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX

Control mix 4 5 - - 7 - - -

Concrete with the

admixture 7 8 3 2 2 3 1,0 -
“Nanoactive-AS”
Concrete with the
admixture 5 7 2 - 1 2 - 4
“Nanoactive-D”

Concrete with the

admixture
“Nanoactive-AS”+ 8 9 6 3 - 6 2,0 5
the admixture
“Nanoactive-D”

Table 3. Total weight loss, % relative to weight loss, %.

Hardened concrete Total weight loss, % relative to weight loss, %

Control mix 16/100
Concrete with the admixture “Nanoactive-AS” 26/162,5
Concrete with the admixture “Nanoactive-D” 21/131
Concrete with the admixture “Nanoactive-AS”
+ the admixture “Nanoactive-D” 39/243
 Tatyana Boikova et al. / Procedia Engineering 189 (2017) 800 – 804 803

The data of differential thermal studies demonstrate that when the “Nanoactive-AS” admixture is applied low-
basic hydrosilicates of gyrolite type, 2СаО×3SiO 2×2Н2О, (endothermic effects at a temperature of 736°-740°C) and
sparingly soluble hydrosilicates of foshagite type, 4СаО×3SiO 2×3Н2О, (endothermic effects at a temperature of
670°-683°C) and of afwillite type, 3СаО×2SiO2×3Н2О, (endothermic effects at a temperature of 372°-386°C) are
formed.
Having been added in the hardening mix, the dry complex admixture “Nanoactive-D” has activating effect on this
mixture [7] and thus complex hydrated compounds such as basic calcium carbonate, CaCO 3×CA(OH)2×1,5Н2О, are
formed. The formation of basic calcium carbonate is proved by the appearance of endothermic effects at a
temperature of 380°-386°C, 736°-740°C and the emergence of a large endothermic effect at a temperature of 820°-
840°C. Basic magnesium carbonate, MgCO3×Mg(OH) 2×3H2O, is also discovered in the hardening modified mix. It
is an evidence of a large endothermic effect presence at a temperature of 790°С.
The formation of the increased amount of the hydrated compounds causes the formation of a large number of
contacts between the ingredients of the hardening concrete. This ensures a strong and compact structure of the
hardened modified concrete [4, 9].
The presence of sparingly soluble calcium hydrosilicates in the hardened concrete as well as basic magnesium
carbonate improves the concrete corrosion resistance to aggressive action of de-icing chemicals and other negative
impacts from the environment [12].
The concrete density assessment was based on the results of the hardened concrete water absorption. The concrete
corrosion resistance was estimated by coefficient of the concrete chemical resistance which is the ratio of
compressive strength of the concrete hardening in an aggressive environment to compressive strength of the concrete
of normal hardening at the age of 360 days.
Comparative results of the water absorption and corrosion resistance change are presented in Table 4.

Table 4. Comparative assessment of density and corrosion resistance of the control mix and the modified concrete.

Coefficient of corrosion resistance

№ Concrete Water absorption, Wm, aggressive aggressive

% environment 5% environment 5%
solution of Na2CO3 solution of MgCl2

1 Control mix 4,8 0,84 0,82

Concrete modified by
2 admixtures (“Nanoactive- 2,7 0,98 0,95
AS” +“Nanoactive-D”)

When water absorption is reduced more than 40% the modified concrete can be assumed to have higher density
which positively affects durability of the concrete [13].
While the modified concrete hardens the concrete density is raised due to the formation of the increased amount of
sparingly soluble hydrated compounds such as hydromagnesite, foshagite, afwillite which are the most resistant in
aggressive environments. This has a positive effect on the concrete corrosion resistance [14].
According to the data obtained during the studies it was found that corrosion resistance of the modified concrete at
the age of 1 year is increased more than 15% and coefficient of corrosion resistance has a value ≥ 0.95. This
proves that this material is resistant to aggressive action of chlorides and carbonates of alkali and alkaline earth
metals [3, 11, 15].
804 Tatyana Boikova et al. / Procedia Engineering 189 (2017) 800 – 804

3. Conclusions

1. It was experimentally established that the use of two admixtures “Nanoactive-AS” and “Nanoactive-D” together
meets the requirements of road concrete.
2. These two additives increase hydration activity of the modified concrete mix:
 firstly, due to hyperreaction activity of the ingredients of the additives used;
 secondly, due to the additional heat (energy) generated during hydration process.
3. These two additives ensure the formation of the increased amount of sparingly soluble hydrated compounds such
as gyrolite, foshagite, afwillite as well as basic calcium carbonate and hydromagnesite.
4. Concrete modified by two complex admixtures “Nanoactive-AS” and “Nanoactive-D” simultaneously has higher
crack and corrosion resistances to aggressive de-icing mixtures.

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