Unveiling the Mechanisms Underlying the Accelerated Channel Lining Concrete Damage Caused by Freeze-Thaw-Wind-Sand Erosion

Abstract

【Objective】 This study delves into the mechanisms underlying the damage and failure of concrete linings in hydraulic channels in cold regions in Northern China that are prone to freeze-thaw, wind and sand erosion. 【Method】 We prepared concrete samples, in line with canal system engineering standards, using solid waste fly ash and silicon powder sourced from Inner Mongolia. Our investigation focused on the freeze-thaw-wind-sand erosion of the concrete lining when it is laid in different directions and the consequential impact on its service life. 【Result】 ①Wind-sand erosion exacerbates freeze-thaw damage in the concrete lining within. The extent of slurry erosion on the channel concrete surface intensifies with the increase in erosion angle. The most severe surface damage occurs when the wind-sand erosion angle was 90°, accelerating surface slurry shedding and internal damage, which is twice as severe as when the angle was 30°. ②The degradation of the eroded surface showed a distinctive fractal pattern. The combined effects of freeze-thaw-wind-sand erosion initiated small pores which then propagated to larger pores. ③Based on material decay and grey theory, we proposed an GM (1,1) grey model to predict the relative dynamic elastic modulus and a model to predict of serve life of the concrete under cycled freeze-thaw erosion under various wind-sand erosion angles. 【Conclusion】 The service life of the hydraulic concrete lining diminishes as the wind-sand erosion angle increases, with a substantial reduction to 25.83 years when exposed to 90° wind-sand erosion.

Keywords

• channel concrete
• freezing-thawing
• wind erosion
• blowing angle
• fractal dimension
• service life