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Role of solution concentration, cement alkali and test duration on expansion of accelerated mortar bar test (AMBT)

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Abstract

The deleterious phenomenon in concrete due to alkali–silica reactivity of an aggregate can be evaluated by an accelerated mortar bar test. This study investigates the individual and combined effect of solution concentration, cement alkali and test duration on expansion, and proposes expansion models consisted of the above-mentioned three parameters. The specimens of this study were prepared from six aggregates having different mineralogy, and three dosages of cement alkalis of 0.42, 0.84 and 1.26 % Na2Oeq. They were submerged in three concentrations (1.0, 0.5 and 0.25 N) of NaOH solution, and were tested at 14, 28, 56 and 98 days. The results showed that the major contributions to expansion were due to solution concentration, followed by test duration and cement alkali.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Nevada Department of Transportation, aggregate and cement producers for supplying materials. The financial supports of Nevada Department of Transportation and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada are also gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA

    Mohammad S. Islam & Nader Ghafoori

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Vancouver, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada

    Mohammad S. Islam, M. Shahria Alam & Rehan Sadiq

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  1. Mohammad S. Islam
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  2. M. Shahria Alam
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  3. Nader Ghafoori
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  4. Rehan Sadiq
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Correspondence to Mohammad S. Islam.

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Islam, M.S., Alam, M.S., Ghafoori, N. et al. Role of solution concentration, cement alkali and test duration on expansion of accelerated mortar bar test (AMBT). Mater Struct 49, 1955–1965 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0626-2

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