Materials Science, Vol. 56, No. 2, September, 2020 (Ukrainian Original Vol. 56, No. 2, March–April, 2020) EXPRESS METHOD FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE FROST RESISTANCE OF SILICATE BUILDING MATERIALS S. V. Piddubnyi, 1,2 H. О. Tatarchenko, 1 and V. М. Sokolenko 1 UDC 666.972.53 We analyze the existing ordinary and express methods aimed at the determination of the frost resistance of building materials and demonstrate their advantages and disadvantages. We propose a new express method, which enables us to determine the durability of stone with the smallest labor consumption and high efficiency. This method is based on the introduced criterion of frost resistance computed according to the water absorption (wt.%) and compression strength in the water-saturated state. The obtained re- sults are in good agreement with the results given by the available ordinary and express methods. Keywords: frost resistance, silicate building materials, water absorption, compression strength, frost re- sistance criterion. Introduction The frost resistance of building materials is one of the main characteristics guaranteeing the durability of structures. The frost resistance of a material is understood as its ability to withstand repeated actions of alternat- ing temperatures in the water-saturated state with preservation of its main physicomechanical characteristics within the specified ranges. The influence of subzero temperatures on building structures decreases the service life of buildings and structures, reduces the overhaul cycles, and leads to additional material, labor, and energy losses required for repairing and restoration of destroyed structures. The possibility of evaluation of the frost re- sistance of silicate building materials within a short period of their production makes it possible to prevent the possibility of rejections in the case of erection of structures with insufficient frost resistance, especially in the climatic zones with sharp drops of temperature. At present, in Ukraine, there are two ordinary (basic) and two express (accelerated) methods aimed at the determination of frost resistance according to the state standards [1, 2]. Moreover, the state standard involves two more accelerated procedures, namely, dilatometric [3] and structural-mechanical methods [4]. Formulation of the Problem The ordinary methods make it possible to determine frost resistance directly according to the number of cy- cles to failure. These methods give reliable experimental results. However, the main disadvantages of these methods of evaluation of the frost resistance of building materials are connected with the required large labor input, duration of the tests, and the necessity of using bulky equipment. 1 V. Dal’ East-Ukrainian National University, Severodonets’k, Ukraine. 2 Corresponding author; e-mail: poddubniys@ukr.net. Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 95–100, March–April, 2020. Original article submitted November 18, 2019. 240 1068-820X/20/5602–0240 © 2020 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC DOI 10.1007/s11003-020-00422-0