18th International Conference on Alkali- Aggregate Reaction (ICAAR)

The International Conference on Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (ICAAR) in Concrete is held every 4 years, bringing together researchers, engineers, scientists, the industry and students from all over the world since 1974. AAR was discovered in the mid 1930’s by Thomas Stanton of the California Division of Highways and remains one of the leading causes of early deterioration in concrete. Topics such as: understanding the reaction mechanisms and the affecting factors; testing methods and preventative measures; diagnosis, evaluation and prognosis; monitoring and NDT; structural effects and modeling at all scales; and repair and remedial measures are presented and discussed. These topics have been extended to other types of deterioration such as delayed ettringite formation. Cases of deterioration and management are also shared to strengthen the ICAAR community and the community the participants serve. The organizing committee is composed of a diverse group of people with different personal and professional backgrounds, all committed to bringing ICAAR to Argentina. Working together, we remain dedicated to welcoming you to our country. We hope you can experience for yourself the wonders that make Argentina so unique: from its rich cultural heritage and the warmth of its people, to its vibrant urban life, breathtaking natural landscapes like Iguazu Falls, Patagonia, and the Andes, and its architectural legacy, including iconic structures affected by AAR deterioration.

Conference Themes

• Mechanisms of Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR) and influencing factors
• Delayed Ettringite Formation (DEF) and its interactions with other mechanisms
• Methods for testing AAR potential
• Preventive strategies and technical guidelines
• Repair and remedial approaches
• Diagnosis, evaluation, and prognosis of affected structures
• Monitoring techniques and non-destructive testing (NDT) methods
• Mechanical and physical effects at material and structural scales due to AAR and related processes
• Multi-scale modelling (micro, meso, macro)
• Case studies highlighting deterioration and intervention
• Transition from laboratory testing to in-field behaviour assessment
• Performance evaluation of sustainable materials against AAR and coupled deterioration mechanisms
• Petrographic and microstructural analyses

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission Period: March 15 to July 15, 2026
• Notification of Abstract Acceptance: by November 1, 2026
• Full Paper Submission Period: November 15, 2026 to May 31, 2027
• Notification of Revisions Required: by September 15, 2027
• Final Submission of Revised Manuscripts: expected between late 2027 and early 2028 (exact dates to be confirmed)
• Final Acceptance of Articles: expected by 2028 (specific date pending)