ISSN: 0149-6123
Page Count: 6

Influence of Silica Fume on the Stresses Generated by Alkali-Silica Reaction
Ferraris, C
Physicist, group leader, physical scientist, engineering technician, National Institute of Standards and Technology, MD

Garboczi, E
Physicist, group leader, physical scientist, engineering technician, National Institute of Standards and Technology, MD

Stutzman, P
Physicist, group leader, physical scientist, engineering technician, National Institute of Standards and Technology, MD

Winpigler, J
Physicist, group leader, physical scientist, engineering technician, National Institute of Standards and Technology, MD

Clifton, J

(Received 2 October 1998; accepted 15 March 2000)

Abstract

Present test methods for determining the suitability of a given combination of cement and aggregates with respect to the potential for alkali-silica reaction (ASR) are based on the measurement of the expansion of the concrete/mortar under prescribed conditions. The scope of this study was to determine the influence of the addition of silica fume as a cement replacement on the stresses generated by the specimen, a parameter that could be useful for the engineer. Cylindrical specimens were placed in a frame equipped with a load cell that fixed the axial strain at approximately zero and measured the axial stress generated over time. A replacement of cement by silica fume at a dosage of 15% by mass for two different w/c ratios led to a significant decrease of the measured stress. SEM observations helped to provide a tentative explanation for the stress and expansion reduction mechanisms with the addition of silica fume.

Keywords:
alkali-silica reaction, mortar, silica fume, stress measurements, stress relaxation

Paper ID: CCA10466J
DOI: 10.1520/CCA10466J
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