Predicting the Durability of Paving Bricks

Abstract

Abstract The pore size distributions of approximately 110 bricks removed from existing pavements were measured using mercury intrusion. These distributions were used to calculate a Durability Factor using the method of Maage. This Durability Factor was then correlated with the observed durability performance of the pavements. It was found that all bricks with a Durability Factor greater than 90 exhibited no freeze/thaw durability problems. Further, with very few exceptions, all bricks with a Durability Factor less than 90 were suffering freeze/thaw failures. This procedure is both more accurate and faster for selecting potentially durable bricks than the current use of absorption measurements.