New Chemical Reactivity Index to Assess Alkali–Silica Reactivity
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 4
Abstract
Despite the awareness of the alkali–silica reaction (ASR) since 1940, the need for an efficient and reliable method of evaluating the potential reactivity of aggregates for use in concrete still exists. Current standards to assess the ASR susceptibility of aggregates have limitations due to inherent problems with accelerated testing conditions. This paper introduces a novel chemical reactivity index (RI) to evaluate the alkali–silica reactivity of coarse aggregates or concrete mixtures by exposing samples to a simulated pore solution with composition mimicking that expected in the concrete. Based on the mix design to be evaluated, aggregate samples are exposed to an alkaline solution of appropriate concentration and fixed amounts of CaO. The newly proposed alkali–silica RI is calculated based on the concentrations of silicon, aluminum, and calcium in solution after 21 days of exposure at 55°C. This RI, sensitive to alkali concentration and aggregate mineralogy, exhibited strong agreement with physical expansion.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Freweini Zerai and Anant Shastry for their technical assistance. Special thanks are extended to Professor Jan Olek of Purdue University for his helpful input regarding some of the concepts discussed within this manuscript. The research that is the subject of this document was funded by the US Federal Highway Administration. This support is gratefully acknowledged. The publication of this study does not necessarily indicate approval or endorsement of the findings, opinions, conclusions, or recommendations either inferred or specifically expressed herein by the Federal Highway Administration or the United States Government.
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Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 4 • April 2021
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© 2021 Published by American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Apr 29, 2020
Accepted: Aug 31, 2020
Published online: Jan 28, 2021
Published in print: Apr 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jun 28, 2021
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