Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relation of ASR-induced expansion and compressive strength of concrete

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Materials and Structures Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the loss in compressive strength of concrete cylinders due to alkali–silica reactivity (ASR) for which an aggregate exhibits reactive or innocuous behavior. For the stated purpose, the expansions of 14 aggregate groups, obtained from the accelerated mortar bar and modified concrete prism tests at various immersion ages, were correlated with the loss in compressive strength of the companion concrete cylinders at the immersion ages of 4 and 28 weeks. The test results concluded that the compressive strength generally was not sensitive to ASR at early age; however, it was significantly impacted at the extended immersion age when excessive expansions and cracks were experienced. The ASR classifications of the investigated aggregate groups based on the expansion limits of mortar bars and concrete prisms showed good correlations with those obtained from the proposed failure limits due to loss in compressive strength.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ACI Committee 221 (1998) State-of-the-art report on alkali-aggregate reactivity. Report No. ACI 221-1R-98. American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills

  2. Ahmed T, Burley E, Rigden S, Abu-Tair A (2003) The effect of alkali reactivity on the mechanical properties of concrete. Constr Build Mater 17:123–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. ASCE Standard (2000) Guideline for structural condition assessment of existing buildings. American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. ASTM Standards C1260 (2007) Standard test method for potential alkali reactivity of aggregates (mortar-bar method). ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  5. ASTM Standards C1293 (2005) Standard test method for concrete aggregates by determination of length change of concrete due to alkali–silica reaction. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bach F, Thorsen TS, Nielsen MP (1993) Load-carrying capacity of structural members subjected to alkali–silica reactions. Constr Build Mater 7(2):109–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bérubé MA, Fournier B (1993) Canadian experience with testing for alkali-aggregate reactivity in concrete. Cem Concr Compos 15:27–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Broekmans MATM (1999) Classification of the alkali–silica reaction in geochemical terms of silica dissolution. In: Pietersen HS, Larbi JA, Janssen HHA (eds) Proceedings of the 7th Euro seminar on microscopy applied to building materials, Delft, pp 155–170

  9. Clayton N (1989) Structural performance of ASR affected concrete. In: Proceedings of the 8th international conference on alkali-aggregate reaction, Kyoto, pp 671–676

  10. Dunnat C (2009) Experimental and modelling study of the alkali–silica reaction in concrete. Dissertation, École Polytechnique, Palaiseau

  11. Fan S, Hanson JM (1998) Effect of alkali silica reaction expansion and cracking on structural behavior of reinforced concrete beams. ACI Struct J 95(5):480–487

    Google Scholar 

  12. Farny JA, Kerkhoff B (2007) Diagnosis and control of alkali-aggregate reactions in concrete. PCA R&D Serial No. 2071b. Portland Cement Association (PCA), Skokie

  13. Ferraris CF (1995) Alkali–silica reaction and high performance concrete. Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg. http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/build95/PDF/b95004.pdf

  14. Folliard KJ, Ideker J, Thomas MDA, Fournier B (2004) Assessing aggregate reactivity using the accelerated concrete prism test. The 12th annual symposium, International Center for Aggregates Research (ICAR), Aggregate Foundation for Technology, Research and Education. http://aftre.nssga.org/Symposium/2004-12.pdf

  15. Giaccio G, Zerbino R, Ponce JM, Batic OR (2008) Mechanical behavior of concretes damaged by alkali–silica reaction. Cem Concr Res 38:993–1004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Gibergues-Carles A, Cyr M, Moisson M, Ringot E (2008) A simple way to mitigate alkali–silica reaction. Mater Struct 41:73–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Haha MB (2006) Mechanical effects of alkali–silica reaction in concrete studied by SEM-image analysis. Dissertation, Swiss Institute of Technology Lausanne

  18. Hobbs DW (1988) Alkali–silica reaction in concrete. Thomas Telford, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  19. Hooton RD (1991) New aggregates alkali-reactivity test methods. Ministry of Transportation, Ontario, Research and Development Branch 1991; Rep MAT-91-14

  20. Hooton RD (1995) Test procedures for ASR. In: Proceedings of the third annual ICAR symposium, concrete, bases, and fines, Center for Aggregates Research (ICAR). http://aftre.nssga.org/Symposium/1995-31.pdf

  21. Hooton RD, Rogers CA (1993) Development of the NBRI rapid mortar bar test leading to its use in North America. Constr Build Mater 7(3):145–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Islam MS (2010) Performance of Nevada’s aggregates in alkali-aggregate reactivity of Portland cement concrete. Dissertation, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

  23. Islam MS, Akhtar S (2013) A critical assessment to the performance of alkali–silica reaction (ASR) in concrete. Can Chem Trans 1(4):253–266

    Google Scholar 

  24. Islam MS, Ghafoori N (2013) Evaluation of alkali–silica reactivity using aggregate geology, mortar bars, concrete prisms and ASR kinetic model. J Mater Sci Res 2(2):103–117

    Google Scholar 

  25. Jones AEK, Clark LA (1997) The effects of ASR on the properties of concrete and the implications for assessment. Eng Struct 20(9):785–791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Leger P, Cote P, Tinawi R (1996) Finite element analysis of concrete swelling due to alkali-aggregate reactions in dams. Comput Struct 60(4):601–611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Ludwig NC, Pence SA (1956) Properties of Portland cement pastes cured at elevated temperatures and pressures. Am Concr Inst 27(6):673–687

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mardani-Aghabaglou A, Tuyan M, Çakır ÖA, Ramyar K (2012) Effect of recycled aggregates on strength and alkali silica reaction (ASR) potential of mortar mixtures. In: Proceedings of the 10th international congress on advances in civil engineering, Ankara, pp 17–19

  29. Marzouk H, Langdon S (2003) The effect of alkali-aggregate reactivity on the mechanical properties of high and normal strength concrete. Cem Concr Compos 25:549–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Monette L, Gardner J, Grattan-Gellew P (2000) Structural effects of the alkali–silica reaction on non-loaded and loaded reinforced concrete beam. In: Proceedings of the 11th international conference on alkali-aggregate reaction, Quebec, pp 999–1008

  31. Nixon PJ, Bollinghaus R (1985) The effect of alkali aggregate reaction on the tensile and compressive strength of concrete. Durab Build Mater 2:243–248

    Google Scholar 

  32. Savva A, Manita P, Sideris KK (2005) Influence of elevated temperatures on the mechanical properties of blended cement concretes prepared with limestone and siliceous aggregates. Cem Concr Compos 27:239–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Stark D (2006) Alkali–silica reaction in concrete. Significance of tests and properties of concrete and concrete-making materials (ASTM STP 169D). ASTM, West Conshohocken, pp 401–409

  34. Stanton TE (1940) Expansion of concrete through reaction between cement and aggregate. Proc ASCE 66(10):1781–1811

    Google Scholar 

  35. Swamy RN (1992) The alkali–silica reaction in concrete. Blackie and Son Ltd., Glasgow

    Book  Google Scholar 

  36. Swamy RN, Al-asali MM (1986) Influence of alkali–silica reaction on the engineering properties of concrete, alkalies in concrete. ASTM STP 930, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, pp 69–86

  37. Swamy RN, Al-Asali MM (1988) Engineering properties of concrete affected by alkali–silica reaction. ACI Mater J 85:367–374

    Google Scholar 

  38. Tarek MU, Hamada H, Yamaji T (2003) Alkali–silica reaction-induced strains over concrete surface and steel bars in concrete. ACI Mater J 100(2):133–144

    Google Scholar 

  39. Touma WE (2000) Alkali–silica reaction in Portland cement concrete: testing methods and mitigation alternatives. Dissertation, University of Texas, Austin

  40. Touma WE, Fowler DW, Carrasquillo RL (2001) Alkali–silica reaction in Portland cement concrete: testing methods alternatives. Research Report ICAR-301-1f. International Center for Aggregates Research (ICAR), Austin

  41. Touma WE, Fowler DW, Folliard D, Nelson N (2001) Expedited laboratory testing and mitigation procedures for alkali–silica reaction. ICAR 9th annual symposium. http://aftre.nssga.org/Symposium/2001-12.pdf

  42. Wang X, Nguyen M, Stewart MG, Syme M, Leitch A (2010) Analysis of climate change impacts on the deterioration of concrete infrastructure—Part 1: Mechanisms, practices, modelling and simulations—a review. CSIRO, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) for supplying materials and financial support throughout the research investigation. Thanks are extended to the Southern Nevada Concrete and Aggregates Association that acted as a liaison between the aggregate producers and researchers. Material contributions made by cement producers are also acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 454015, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA

    Mohammad S. Islam & Nader Ghafoori

Authors
  1. Mohammad S. Islam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nader Ghafoori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad S. Islam.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Islam, M.S., Ghafoori, N. Relation of ASR-induced expansion and compressive strength of concrete. Mater Struct 48, 4055–4066 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0465-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0465-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation