Engineering Geology

Engineering Geology

Assessment of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in active aggregates using concrete petrography and the dri index

Authors
Seyyed Mahmoud Fatemi Aghda
Seyyed Sara Mousavi Herati
Mehdi Talkhablo
Amir Maziar Raeis Ghasemi
10.22034/JEG.2024.18.2.1019661
Abstract
The alkali-silica reaction of aggregates is one of the most significant factors in the destruction of concrete structures worldwide. This is due to chemical reactions between alkaline fluids in concrete voids and active silica minerals present in some aggregates. Considering that many physical, chemical and mechanical properties of concrete are related to aggregates, the role of aggregates in concrete is crucial. This research aims to investigate the compatibility of aggregate petrographic studies and accelerated prismatic mortar testing in predicting the reactivity of aggregates and determining the intensity of aggregate reactivity using the DRI index (a semi-quantitative complementary petrographic analysis). The study was carried out on laboratory samples of aggregates from mines around Tehran, using the ASTM C295, ASTM C1260 and ASTM C856-4 tests. The results showed that pyroclastic aggregates, which include sandy tuff, crystalline tuff (dacitic andesite) and glassy tuff, have the potential to cause an alkali-silica reaction due to their glassy background and microcrystalline silica. During the alkaline reaction tests of the aggregates, evidence of gel was found in cracks, holes and cement paste. In addition, the DRI index showed that the fine aggregates of both study areas were in the "slightly damaged" category and the coarse aggregates were in the "severely damaged" category.
Keywords
Aggregate
alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR)
alkali-silica reaction (ASR)
ASTM C856-4
Damage Grading Index (DRI)
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