ISSN: 1546-962X
CODEN: JAIOAD
Published Online: 19 July 2006
Page Count: 11

Effect of Aggregate Particle Size on Determining Alkali-Silica Reactivity by Accelerated Tests

Lu, D
Associate Professor, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing,

Fournier, B
Research Scientist, ICON/CANMET, NRCan, Ottawa,

Grattan-Bellew, P
Former Research Officer, NRC, Canada, Ottawa,

(Received 16 September 2005; accepted 13 June 2006)

Abstract

For assessing the rock applicability of accelerated tests for alkali-aggregate reactivity and the effect of aggregate particle size on determining alkali reactivity of concrete aggregates in accelerated tests, experimental studies on microstructure and expansion behaviors of Potsdam sandstone and a Norwegian quartzite were conducted in Concrete Prism Test and in various accelerated tests, i.e., Accelerated Mortar Bar Test, Chinese Autoclave Method, and Chinese Accelerated Mortar Bar Test. Results indicate that, in comparison with Concrete Prism Test results, the alkali expansivity of both rocks are generally underestimated in these accelerated tests. It is mainly attributed to the use of a large proportion of very fine aggregate particles in which the original microtexture characteristic of rocks was lost during sample preparation. The effects of microtexture and the particle size of aggregate on reasonable prediction of alkali expansivity of aggregates in concrete by accelerated tests were discussed.

Keywords:
alkali-aggregate reaction, alkali-silica reaction, testing method, microstructure

Paper ID: JAI100432
DOI: 10.1520/JAI100432
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