Fatigue Behavior of Air-Entrained High Strength Concrete with Blast Furnace Slag Fine Aggregates Under Freezing and Thawing

This experimental study investigates the compressive fatigue behavior of air-entrained (AE) concrete with blast furnace slag (BFS) fine aggregates subjected to freeze-thaw cycles (FTC). The fatigue tests were carried out on cylindrical specimens of intact and frost-damaged AEBFS concrete and the results are compared with those of AE high strength (HS) normal concrete using crushed sand. The strain measurements are used to discuss the damage progress under fatigue loading. The results reveal that although the static compressive strength of AEBFS concrete is slightly less than AEHSN concrete, the fatigue life of AEBFS concrete is longer than that of AEHSN concrete. No significant effect of FTC is found on the fatigue behavior of each concrete due to very low frost damage. Moreover, it is found that overall the fatigue life of AEHS concrete is longer than that of non-AE high strength concrete from literature and this difference is pronounced with the reduction in maximum stress level.