Comparative Study of Freeze and Thaw Test Procedures on Molded Brick
SourceA testing program was conducted to compare the results of three different freeze/thaw test procedures on molded brick. The bricks were tested in accordance with ASTM C67-02a (performed continuously without weekend interruptions), Dutch Standard NEN 2872-89 (Nederlands Normalisatie-Instituut (Netherlands Standards Institute—NEN)), and a non-standardized test similar to tests performed by other researchers that included boiling the brick prior to freezing, referred to as the “Boil to Freeze” test. The effects of the tests were compared by assessing visual damage and measuring changes in ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements and 24 h cold water absorption values on each brick before and after freeze/thaw testing. In addition to the freeze/thaw tests, the bricks were also tested for basic physical properties including compressive strength and absorption. A statistical analysis was made of the test results to compare the effects (severity) of three different freeze/thaw tests.