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Preventing, Assessing, Mitigating and Managing Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR) in Concrete Infrastructure: Challenges and Research Needs

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2023) | Viewed by 4735

Special Issue Editor

Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Interests: concrete sustainability; concrete durability; internal swelling reactions (ISR); alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR); diagnosis and prognosis of concrete infrastructure; management and rehabilitation of affected concrete

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Alkali-aggregate reaction is one of the most harmful distress mechanisms affecting concrete infrastructure worldwide. AAR is a chemical reaction between alkali-hydroxides from the concrete pore solution and some unstable mineral phases present in the aggregates used in concrete. AAR provides a gel that swells upon moisture uptake, leading to induced swelling and deterioration of the affected concrete. AAR is normally divided into two distinct mechanisms: alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR); ASR is by far the most common deterioration mechanism.

Over the years, a number of protocols and test procedures have been developed to either prevent or mitigate AAR-induced development prior to its occurrence in the field. Although some of the procedures were observed to be more reliable than others, the vast majority of experts agree that it is now possible to design AAR-risk free concrete mixtures. Conversely, once a concrete infrastructure is affected in the field, there is no “universal” solution considered sufficiently reliable and efficient to properly cope with the issue. First, incomplete techniques are often used to assess the extent of deterioration and its potential development over time. Moreover, most of the rehabilitation procedures adopted in the past are considered either inefficient or very expensive. Finally, there is a current gap in the literature of systematic, efficient, and quantitative management protocols to better deal with affected structures in service. Therefore, the purpose of this Special Issue is to further discuss alternative, advanced, and innovative techniques/protocols able to: a) reliably and quantitatively appraise the current (i.e., diagnosis) and future (i.e., prognosis) condition of AAR-affected infrastructure, b) evaluate the current and future structural implications of the induced expansion and deterioration, c) cease or at least significantly decrease AAR-induced development rate in the field, increasing serviceability, durability, and safety of affected structures, and d) better guide infrastructure owners and engineers in the decision making of affected structures. 

Dr. Leandro F.M. Sanchez
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • preventing AAR in concrete
  • mitigating AAR in concrete
  • condition assessment of AAR-affected infrastructure
  • diagnosis and prognosis tools to appraise AAR-affected concrete
  • structural implications of AAR in concrete
  • modeling of AAR in concrete: micro, meso and macro
  • rehabilitation of AAR-affected concrete
  • management protocols for AAR-affected infrastructure

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 5010 KiB  
Article
Assessing and Forecasting ISR-Affected Critical Infrastructure: State-of-the-Art and Challenges
by Ana Bergmann, Rennan Medeiros and Leandro Sanchez
Materials 2024, 17(1), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010188 - 29 Dec 2023
Viewed by 465
Abstract
Internal swelling reactions (ISRs) are among the most critical deterioration mechanisms affecting infrastructure’s durability worldwide. While preventative measures for new structures have been extensively explored, effective protocols for diagnosing and prognosing ISR-affected structures, especially at their early stages, are still required. Therefore, through [...] Read more.
Internal swelling reactions (ISRs) are among the most critical deterioration mechanisms affecting infrastructure’s durability worldwide. While preventative measures for new structures have been extensively explored, effective protocols for diagnosing and prognosing ISR-affected structures, especially at their early stages, are still required. Therefore, through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis, this study focuses on exploring the evolution and current methods for assessing and forecasting ISR damage in concrete structures. For diagnosis, a shift from concrete petrography and non-destructive techniques (NDTs) towards more comprehensive methods (i.e., multi-level assessment) with the stiffness damage test (SDT) and damage rating index (DRI) is observed. Moreover, it identifies the valuable inputs from residual expansion and pore solution analysis as relevant parameters for prognosis. Based on these findings, a structured management framework is proposed aiming to refine the diagnosis and prognosis processes of ISR-affected infrastructure, ultimately contributing to improved long-term structural health and maintenance strategies. Full article
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26 pages, 7111 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Distinct Superplasticizers on the Degradation of Concrete Affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR)
by Andisheh Zahedi, Cassandra Trottier, Yufeng Zhu and Leandro F. M. Sanchez
Materials 2023, 16(9), 3374; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16093374 - 25 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1060
Abstract
The effect of two superplasticizers (SPs) with various equivalent (eq.) alkali contents (i.e., with 0.00009% and 4.1% of Na2Oeq, respectively) on the development of an alkali-silica reaction (ASR) was investigated through the use of multilevel assessment. This testing protocol [...] Read more.
The effect of two superplasticizers (SPs) with various equivalent (eq.) alkali contents (i.e., with 0.00009% and 4.1% of Na2Oeq, respectively) on the development of an alkali-silica reaction (ASR) was investigated through the use of multilevel assessment. This testing protocol showed promising results for evaluating concrete damage due to ASRs based on mechanical and microscopical testing protocols, specifically the stiffness damage test (SDT) and the damage rating index (DRI). Concrete specimens that incorporated the aforementioned SPs and distinct reactive aggregates (coarse and fine) were manufactured and then stored in conditions that enabled ASR development and were monitored over time. Upon reaching the desired expansion levels of this study, the concrete specimens were prepared for the multilevel assessment. The results show that the SP-incorporated concrete specimens with lower and higher alkali content yielded lower and higher deterioration results, respectively. This clearly confirms that while SP-incorporated concrete that contains SPs with a higher alkali content could increase the risk of ASR deterioration, those SPs with a very low amount of alkali content could act as a mitigation strategy against ASRs. Finally, an investigation into the influence of distinct SPs on the chemical composition of an ASR gel was conducted, which confirmed that the SP with a higher alkali content had the highest potential for further deterioration. Full article
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21 pages, 11449 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Alkali–Silica Reaction Potential in Aggregates from Iran and Australia Using Thin-Section Petrography and Expansion Testing
by Pezhman Kazemi, Mohammad Reza Nikudel, Mashalah Khamehchiyan, Paritosh Giri, Shima Taheri and Simon Martin Clark
Materials 2022, 15(12), 4289; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15124289 - 17 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1721
Abstract
The alkali–silica reaction can shorten concrete life due to expansive pressure build-up caused by reaction by-products, resulting in cracking. Understanding the role of the aggregate, as the main reactive component, is essential for understanding the underlying mechanisms of the alkali–silica reaction and thereby [...] Read more.
The alkali–silica reaction can shorten concrete life due to expansive pressure build-up caused by reaction by-products, resulting in cracking. Understanding the role of the aggregate, as the main reactive component, is essential for understanding the underlying mechanisms of the alkali–silica reaction and thereby reducing, or even preventing, any potential damage. The present study aims to investigate the role of petrographic studies along with accelerated tests in predicting and determining the potential reactivity of aggregates, including granite, rhyodacite, limestone, and dolomite, with different geological characteristics in concrete. This study was performed under accelerated conditions in accordance with the ASTM C1260 and ASTM C1293 test methods. The extent of the alkali–silica reaction was assessed using a range of microanalysis techniques including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray powder diffraction. The results showed that a calcium-rich aggregate with only a small quantity of siliceous component but with a higher porosity and water adsorption rate can lead to degradation due to the alkali–silica reaction, while dolomite aggregate, which is commonly considered a reactive aggregate, showed no considerable expansion during the conducted tests. The results also showed that rhyodacite samples, due to their glassy texture, the existence of strained quartz and quartz with undulatory extinction, as well as the presence of weathering minerals, have a higher alkali-reactivity potential than granite samples. Full article
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Review

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18 pages, 2008 KiB  
Review
Alkali–Silica Reactions: Literature Review on the Influence of Moisture and Temperature and the Knowledge Gap
by Olusola D. Olajide, Michelle R. Nokken and Leandro F. M. Sanchez
Materials 2024, 17(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010010 - 19 Dec 2023
Viewed by 788
Abstract
The alkali–silica reaction is a universally known destructive mechanism in concrete that can lead to the premature loss of serviceability in affected structures. Quite an enormous number of research studies have been carried out focusing on the mechanisms involved as well as the [...] Read more.
The alkali–silica reaction is a universally known destructive mechanism in concrete that can lead to the premature loss of serviceability in affected structures. Quite an enormous number of research studies have been carried out focusing on the mechanisms involved as well as the mitigation and prevention of the reaction. A few in-depth discussions on the role of moisture and temperature exist in the literature. Nevertheless, moisture and temperature have been confirmed to play a vital role in the reaction. However, critical assessments of their influence on ASR-induced damage are limited. The available moisture in concrete needed to initiate and sustain the reaction has been predominantly quantified with the relative humidity as a result of difficulties in the use of other media, like the degree of capillary saturation, which is more scientific. This paper discussed the current state of understanding of moisture measurement in concrete, the role of moisture and temperature in the kinetics of the reaction, as well as the moisture threshold needed for the reaction. Furthermore, the influence of these exposure conditions on the internal damage caused by ASR-induced deterioration was discussed. Full article
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