Ice wear and abrasion of marine concrete: design of experimental apparatus and procedures

Abstract

Abrasion of marine concrete structures from passing ice is an ongoing problem that leads to loss of structural integrity over time. The purpose of this study is to develop new experimental approaches and apparatus that would allow long term testing of ice wear on concrete samples as a prelude to a larger study that will investigate the wear of concrete by ice. This thesis has drawn on the experiences of previous work to identify the important issues, including those areas where different approaches may be beneficial. A review has been completed of previously used tests setups, contributing factors and areas of uncertainty. This has resulted in two conceptual designs that approach the problem from slightly different angles. The first is a lab scale apparatus that aims to standardize the testing methods for concrete wear due to ice. The conceptual design of a new apparatus will allow wide ranging load applications, long test durations and the inclusion of surrounding water. The second is an in-situ apparatus that has been developed to allow direct comparison between concrete mixtures in terms of wear resistance under realistic but uncontrolled ice conditions. Pilot experiments have been completed and reviewed to refine the initial concept and to determine effective means of abrasion measurement. These experiments provided insight into important features of the designed apparatus, trial results from measurements of iceinduced wear on concrete and useful information on concrete wear experiments in general.