Engineering Properties of Concrete Affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction

TLDR: A detailed study of the effects of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) on the engineering properties of concrete such as compressive and tensile strength, elastic modulus, and pulse velocity is presented.

Abstract: A detailed study of the effects of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) on the engineering properties of concrete such as compressive and tensile strength, elastic modulus, and pulse velocity is presented. Two types of reactive aggregate - a naturally occurring Beltane opal and synthetic fused silica - were used. The tests wee carried out at 20 C and 96 percent relative humidity (RH). The results showed that losses in engineering properties do not all occur at the same rate or in proportion to the expansion undergone by the ASR-affected concrete. The two major properties affected by ASR were flexural strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity. Compressive strength was not a good indicator of ASR, but the flexural strength proved to be a reliable and sensitve test for mointoring ASR. Nondestructive tests like dynamic modulus and pulse velocity were also able to identify deterioration of concrete by ASR. The data indicate that critical expansion limits due to ASR would vary depending on the type and use of a concrete structure.