How to prevent and assess defects?

Edge strength of concrete products –

Frequently occurring defects on concrete block ­pavements

Many of the claims that arise in connection with concrete block pavements are concentrated on very few causes of damage. Among them, aside from shifting paving blocks and the rutting that occurs as a result, are the following:

Chipping on the corners and edges of blocks

Scaling of the concrete owing to the action of frost and de-icing salt

Efflorescence on the paving blocks

Discoloration of paving blocks caused by joint materials, and

Discolorations over the entire block surfaces, or in isolated areas, and differences in color between the...

Related articles:

Issue 01/2020

Assessment of frost and freeze-thaw damage to concrete pavers (Part 2)

The first part of this article dealt with the different patterns associated with freeze-thaw damage, the impact of cracks occurring in products, and the influence of installation and use on the onset...

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Issue 12/2019

Assessment of frost and freeze-thaw damage to concrete pavers (Part 1)

High weather resistance of concrete pavers is crucial wherever paved surfaces are exposed to frequent freeze-thaw cycles. In this respect, it should be noted that the climatic conditions prevailing in...

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Issue 02/2015 Development of open-structured cement-bound paving blocks

Low-noise concrete block pavement under practical ­conditions

Concrete block road surfacings are an established alternative to concrete and asphalt surfacings, in particular in inner-city areas, since they enable simple and rapid construction and are of high...

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Issue 11/2016

Discoloration of paving block surfaces – Case examples and their evaluation

In the last few years, the number of complaints about discolored concrete block pavements has increased considerably [6], [7], [9], [10]. This raises the question why the number of complaints owing to...

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Issue 09/2019

Reliable assessment of resistance of concrete paving blocks to freeze-thaw with de-icing salt

Verification of the resistance of concrete paving blocks to freeze-thaw with de-icing salt in accordance with DIN EN 1338 [DIN38 has been required from manufacturers since 2005. The test method for...

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