AASHTO T 136-13 (2021) PDF Download

The AASHTO T 136-13 (2021) standard provides guidelines for evaluating the performance of soil-cement mixtures under freezing and thawing conditions. The standard focuses on determining the soil-cement losses, moisture changes, and volume changes (swell and shrinkage) that occur when hardened soil-cement specimens are subjected to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing.

The testing procedure described in the standard involves compacting the soil-cement mixture into a mold before the cement hydration process begins. This compaction is carried out to achieve maximum density at the optimum moisture content, following the compaction procedure outlined in AASHTO T 134. The compacted specimens are then subjected to a series of cycles of freezing and thawing.

By conducting this freezing-and-thawing test, engineers and researchers can assess the durability and performance of soil-cement mixtures under cold weather conditions. The results obtained from this test can help in designing and selecting appropriate soil-cement mixtures for construction projects in regions susceptible to freezing and thawing conditions.