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Unidirectional Freeze-Thaw Cabinet
Freeze-thaw durability of masonry units
Unidirectional freezing from one side more closely simulates the freezing action experienced by masonry walls on a building rather than freezing from all sides (omni-directional freezing). This cabinet, originally designed in the Netherlands, has been modified to allow a number of different standard freeze-thaw tests to be performed. Cooling rate, temperature, and freeze-thaw cycle duration can be controlled.
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The photograph shows the unidirectional freeze-thaw cabinet with an insulated tray (800 x 800 mm) containing bricks bedded in sand. Only the face of the bricks is exposed so that the freezing plane moves, in one direction, through the brick. Typical freeze-thaw cycles range from -20°C to +15°C. During the freezing cycle cold air is blown onto the bricks, and during the thaw cycle water is added to the cabinet until the tray is submerged in water (see diagram below).
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