Study On Carbonation Phenomenon Impact On RCC Pavements (RCCP) Technical Performance

Roller compacted concrete (RCC) nowadays is majorly used in two quite different fields. The first application of RCC is in the dam construction and the second is as the pavement. One of the most important parameters in the implementation of concrete structures is their durability, this is specially crucial for pavements which face with harsh enviroments and countinous dynamical loads. Designers of concrete structures are concerned more about strength properties of this material whereas early deterioration of concrete structures are also observed in cases where strength properties are checked which teach us valuable lessons about effective control of concrete structures for determining the lack of durability. Regarding the using of RCC pavements in areas with various environmental conditions assesing the durability parameters of RCCP are very important.The main purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of the carbonation phenomenon on durability properties of RCCP. In order to achieve this aim, RCC with 0.32 constant water-cement ratio in grades of 270 , 300 , 330 and 350 cement content were made and compressive strength tests, capillary absorption and carbonation resistance tests at the ages of 7 , 28 and 90 days were carried out. Overal the results which confirm each other suggest that, the increase in cement content have improved the durability parameters. It was also shown that carbonation phenomenon has not significant influence on physical performance and durability properties of  RCCP. As a result, it can be said that the use of RCCP in urban environments where the phenomenon of carbonation is more likely, is permitted. This study also, encourages the application of RCCP in terms of resistance toward carbonation phenomon.