Application of an innovative methodology to assessing the alkali-silica reaction in concrete

A new methodological approach, based on two innovative parameters such as the threshold alkali level (TAL) of aggregates and the tolerable driving force (Δ tol ) provided by an inhibitor of the deleterious alkali-silica reaction (ASR), was used for the assessment of the ASR expansivity of concrete m...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials and structures 2015-09, Vol.48 (9), p.2727-2740
Main Authors: Berra, Mario, Costa, Umberto, Mangialardi, Teresa, Paolini, Antonio E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggregates
Alkali-silica reactions
Building construction
Building Materials
Cements
Civil Engineering
Concretes
Effectiveness
Engineering
Inhibitors
Machines
Manufacturing
Materials Science
Mortars
Original Article
Prisms
Processes
Solid Mechanics
Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A new methodological approach, based on two innovative parameters such as the threshold alkali level (TAL) of aggregates and the tolerable driving force (Δ tol ) provided by an inhibitor of the deleterious alkali-silica reaction (ASR), was used for the assessment of the ASR expansivity of concrete mixes made with different alkali-reactive aggregates and different cements (one limestone-Portland (or Portland) cement, three pozzolanic cements and one blast furnace cement). Concrete prism expansion tests were performed under two different test conditions: 38 °C and 100 % RH or 60 °C and 100 % RH. The alkali-reactivity of the aggregates was also evaluated by using the petrographic examination and the ultra-accelerated mortar bar expansion test in 1 M NaOH solution at 80 °C. The test results were interpreted according to the innovative methodological approach, as well as according to a traditional approach based on pass-fail criteria. It was found that the two parameters, TAL and Δ tol , are appropriate for both assessing the alkali-reactivity of aggregates (TAL) and comparing the efficacy of blended cements as ASR inhibitors (Δ tol ). These two parameters may be rapidly evaluated (150 days of testing) by using the accelerated concrete prism expansion test at 60 °C and 100 % RH.
ISSN:1359-5997
1871-6873
DOI:10.1617/s11527-014-0349-9