Evaluation of Freeze-Thaw Durability of Silica Fume Concrete with Spraying Inorganic Coating Using Ultrasonic Testing

To study the antifreezing durability of internal coating silicon fume concrete with different external coatings, fast freeze-thaw (FT) cycle testing was performed for three types of external coatings applied to the internal coatings of silicon fume concrete. Using ultrasonic testing and compressive strength tests, we analysed the relationships between the ultrasonic pulse velocity and the mechanical and physical properties of concrete under freeze-thaw action. The results show that the compressive strength and pulse velocity of the studied concrete changed little before the first 100 FT cycles but varied significantly after being subjected to 100 FT cycles and diminished linearly with increasing FT cycles. The dynamic elastic parameters of the concrete were inferred using pulse velocity calculations, and the dependence on FT cycles was very similar to that of ultrasonic pulse velocity. The concrete strength was strongly and positively correlated with ultrasonic pulse velocity. The linear regression model of between ultrasonic pulse velocity, kinetic coefficient, and compressive strength of concrete was also established. The damage incurred to the external coating material (XT-HPA + XT-SS and XT-HPS) was small, and the good performance of the concrete with the added inorganic coating after freeze-thaw cycles indicates good frost resistance.