Effect of Protection Painting On Main Characteristics of Highway Concrete Layer Against Ground Water Solutions

One of the durability problems which can be occurred during the service life of a concrete structure like highway concrete layer is sulfate attach. Sulfate ions has been found in the ground water in some regions of Iraq. In these regions, water ground solution usually affects the concrete layer that result in strength decrement and volume increment and ettringite cracking. Therefore the permeability decreasing of concrete plays significant role for more durability. In this study there are four types of epoxy resin used as painting and may be good solution for the problem. Two types of protection painting used with and without (base material) primer for concrete specimen prepared for investigating the main characteristics needed in design of highway concrete layer thicknesses. Concrete specimen painting by the epoxy resin had positive effect on all main character (compressive strength, Elastic modulus) and significantly on flexural strength. This type of protection is recommended to use for concrete layer at more important high traffic load, highway segment life approaches of bridges and overpasses structure.