Development of a Field Exposure Site for Predicting and Mitigating ASR

2018FinalPDFTech ReportAlkali silica reactionsCoarse aggregatesConcrete testsFine aggregatesReactive aggregatesConcreteSilaneUnited StatesUniversity of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Dept. of Civil EngineeringDavis, Doddridge EDeschenes Jr, RichardHale, W. MicahUniversity of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Department of Civil EngineeringArkansas. Department of TransportationUS Transportation CollectionAlkali-silica reaction (ASR) is an expansive reaction between the alkalis in the cement and reactive silica in the aggregates. Arkansas is currently witnessing the detrimental effects of ASR at various locations in Arkansas. There has been a significant amount of research conducted using accelerated mortar bar tests (ASTM C1260 and AASHTO T303) and concrete prism tests (ASTM C1293) to determine if specific concrete mixtures show potential for alkali-silica reactivity. More recently, however, outdoor field exposure sites have become popular methods of predicting ASR damage. These sites represent field conditions much better than ASTM C1293 and thus become better predictors for finding reactive aggregates. For this research project, eighteen coarse and three fine aggregates available in Arkansas were collected and tested. The reactivity of these materials were measured using the two standard laboratory methods, the Accelerated Mortar Bar Test (AMBT) ASTM C1260 and the Concrete Prism Test (CPT) ASTM C1293. Exposure block tests, deemed to reflect realistic field results, were also conducted.90