The influence of compound layers on the mechanical properties and frost resistance of roller compacted concrete pavement

Abstract Nowadays, roller compacted concrete pavement, (RCCP), is becoming popular due to lower cost of construction, repair, and maintenance compared with those for normal concrete. However, due to the roughness of the RCCP surface, its use in highway roads is limited. In the present paper, the effects of two different compound layers on mechanical and frost resistance of RCCP were investigated. Slag and silica fume were used as a partial replacement for cement in the predetermined mixtures. Two compound layers of the hot mix asphalt (HMA) and air-entrained concrete (AEC) were used. The mixtures were suffered under freeze-thaw cycles in the present of de-icing salt. The compressive strength and the connection resistance between the compound layers and RCCP after freeze-thaw cycles were evaluated via slant shear and splitting tensile tests. The results indicated that the addition of slag reduced both compressive strength and salt scaling resistance. On the contrary, silica fume improved compressive strength and particularly salt scaling resistance of the specimens. The results also showed that the connection resistance of the specimens was reduced, due to freeze-thaw cycles in the presence of the de-icing agent, about 12% and 10% for HMA and AEC layers, respectively.