Faculty Research and Publications

Investigating the impact of specimen size relating to calcium oxychloride deterioration in concrete mixtures

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Construction and Building Materials

Publication Date

Fall 12-26-2025

Volume

505

Issue

144769

First Page

1

Last Page

9

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that calcium oxychloride (CAOXY) formation results in significant loss of serviceability to components of infrastructure, such as concrete pavements and bridge decks. However, due to the imbued variance in seasonal weather changes and differing maintenance regimes aimed at protecting users of the infrastructure, a significant challenge exists in simulating correlation of the impact of CAOXY between the service environment and experimental lab settings. The disparity between the two settings requires the continual investigation of common practices and procedures utilized to investigate CAOXY impact. A common practice observed in CAOXY research is the utilization of inconsistent specimen sizes subjected to CaCl2 solutions. However, potential differences in the results due to differing specimen geometries have not been investigated. The following work investigated CAOXY development relative to deviating surface and volume characteristics of specimens by subjecting both cubes and cylindrical specimens of different sizes to aggressive exposure conditions at 25 % solution by mass for a 90-day duration. Results from the investigation concluded observable differences in deterioration associated with CAOXY formation. All three cube sizes experienced decreased compressive strength change over the 90-day storage duration, 51 (mm)3, 70 (mm)3, and 95 (mm)3, experienced 49 %, 56 %, and 34 %, while the cylindrical specimen’s loss was considered marginal, 76 mm× 152 mm and 101 mm× 203 mm experienced 6.4 % and 11.9 %, respectively. Additionally, changes in mass and volume values observed in this investigation suggest correlation between the specimen geometry and planar intersections, or joints, and the role in CAOXY deterioration impact. All three cube specimens experienced average mass increases of 3–4 %, while the cylindrical specimens experienced less than 2 % on average. The results of the average volume change final results after the testing duration present a similar outcome that the cubic specimens experience more accelerated change over the cylindrical specimens. Further analysis, including thermogravimetric analysis results, investigating the correlation of specimen geometry and planar intersections are presented in this work.

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