Alkali-silica reaction causing cracks in concrete with crushed greywacke and quartz porphyry

Authors: O. Mielich, H.-W. Reinhardt
Paper category: conference
Book title: Concrete Durability and Service Life Planning – ConcreteLife’09
Editor(s): K. Kovler
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-074-5
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-085-1
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2009
Pages: 188 – 195
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: The alkali-silica reaction (ASR) of so-called slow/late aggregates is still not completely understood. The results which are presented here indicate that a damage may already exist in the early stage of an ASR before a macroscopic ASR is evident. The highly alkaline pore solution of concrete causes softening of rock grains. This mechanism can be traced back to chemical dissolution and regeneration processes and, therefore, has a direct influence on Young`s modulus of concrete. The question whether swelling pressure, which arises from ASR, will result in splitting of a rock grain or not, depends strongly on the fracture toughness as a mechanical material parameter of the rock. This issue has been investigated and will be discussed.

Online publication: 2012-05-16
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00