Technology Evaluation on Characterization of the Air Void System in Concrete
Record Type: UTC

In addition to winter conditions in Pennsylvania, deficient material quality, among other factors, can severely affect the durability of concrete pavements, thus diminishing their service life. A common and well-proven quality control measure has been the determination of air content in fresh concrete (using ASTM standard test methods such as ASTM C231, C173 and C138). More reliable indicators of future performance can be obtained from hardened concrete by analyzing the air void system, in particular the air content, spacing factor and specific surface (ASTM C457). The need for obtaining these parameters at the fresh state of concrete, thus significantly improving the quality control of concrete pavements at an early stage, has moved research in universities and industry to investigate technologies that can characterize the air void system. A recently completed project by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) evaluated the effectiveness of a commercially available device (Air Void Analyzer) to characterize the distribution of air voids in fresh concrete. This device was found not ready for field-based applications (PennDOT/MAUTC Work Order No. 6, 2007) The objective of this project is to evaluate current technologies that have the capability of characterizing the air void system in concrete within the first several hours of placement. This objective will be met by conducting a review of current research developments at universities, research centers, and industry facilities that have the potential for characterizing concrete air void system parameters such as air content, spacing factors and surface areas and assessing their feasibility. This evaluation will specifically focus on technologies that have the potential of being implemented in the field.
Start date: 2008/7/18
End date: 2009/9/17
Status: Active
Contract/Grant Number: DTRT07-G-0003
Secondary Number: PSU-2008-01
Total Dollars: 137310
Source Organization: Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Date Added: 10/07/2008
Index Terms: Air voids, Technological innovations, Concrete pavements, Quality control, Service life, Air void analyzers, Air content, Pennsylvania, Research projects,

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
www.dot.state.pa.us
Planning and Research, 400 North Street
6th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120
USA
Phone: (717) 787-6567
Fax: (717) 783-9152

Lucas, Marcy
Phone: (717) 787-3573

Pennsylvania State University, University Park
http://www.pti.psu.edu/
Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
Research Office Building
University Park, PA 16802-4710
USA
Phone: (814) 865-1891
Fax: (814) 863-3707

Lopez, Maria
Phone: (814) 865-9423