Freeze-thaw cycle

Freeze-thaw cycles have a negative impact on porous construction materials and cracked structural elements. Water penetrates into the pores and cracks. When the water freezes, the increase in volume in consequence of ice formation (anomaly of water) may result in micro cracks and further damages as even spalling. Due to the damages water may penetrate deeper into the structural element, e.g. through to the reinforcement of a concrete girder bridge. Particularly fatal for concrete elements are freeze-thaw cycles caused by road salts; road salts contain chlorides that force the corrosion of the reinforcement additionally.