Volumetric strains of cement-based mortars caused by ice formation in terms of frost resistance diagnostics

The paper presents the volumetric strain test results of differently composed cement mortar samples during the phase transformation of water into ice, and juxtaposes the results with other relevant indicators, such as the water absorption and the degree of filling pores with water. It also presents the possibility of using these observations in terms of frost resistance diagnostics. The investigation covered non-airentrained mortars, which were also subjected to the vacuum treatment and vibration to reduce the air content. It was found experimentally that the volumetric strain of mortar samples soaked in water under vacuum at ΔV/V < 2‰ means the mortar of high frost resistance. ΔV/V > 4‰ indicates that the mortar requires air-entraining regardless of the microstructure and kind of cement.