Alkalisilica reaction

2 Mechanism of concrete deterioration

The mechanism of ASR causing the deterioration of concrete can be described in four steps as follows:
1. The alkaline solution attacks the siliceous aggregate,
converting it to viscous alkali silicate gel.
2. Consumption of alkali by the reaction induces the
dissolution of Ca2+ ions into the cement pore water.
Calcium ions then react with the gel to convert it to
hard C-S-H.
Characteristic crack pattern associated with the alkalisilica reaction aecting a concrete step barrier on an US motorway (photograph courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration, US Department of Transportation).[1][2]

3. The penetrated alkaline solution converts the remaining siliceous minerals into bulky alkali silicate
gel. The resultant expansive pressure is stored in the
aggregate.

For less common types of alkali-driven concrete

degradation see alkali-aggregate reaction (disambiguation page).

4. The accumulated pressure cracks the aggregate and

the surrounding cement paste when the pressure exceeds the tolerance of the aggregate.[4]

The alkalisilica reaction (ASR) is a reaction which occurs over time in concrete between the highly alkaline 3 Mitigation
cement paste and reactive non-crystalline (amorphous)
silica, which is found in many common aggregates.
ASR can be mitigated in new concrete by three compleThis reaction causes the expansion of the altered aggre- mentary approaches:
gate by the formation of a swelling gel of calcium silicate
hydrate (C-S-H). This gel increases in volume with wa1. Limit the alkali metal content of the cement. Many
ter, and exerts an expansive pressure inside the material,
standards impose limits on the Equivalent Na2 O
causing spalling and loss of strength of the concrete, content of cement.
nally leading to its failure.
2. Limit the reactive silica content of the aggregate. CerASR can cause serious cracking in concrete, resulting in
tain volcanic rocks are particularly susceptible to
critical structural problems that can even force the demoASR because they contain volcanic glass (obsidian)
lition of a particular structure.[3]
and should not be used as aggregate. The use of
calcium carbonate aggregates is sometimes envisaged as an ultimate solution to avoid any problem.
1 Chemistry
However, while it may be considered as a necessary condition, it is not a sucient one. In principle,
limestone (CaCO3 ) is not expected to contain a high
ASR reaction is the same as the pozzolanic reaction,
level of silica, but it actually depends on its purity.
which is a simple acid-base reaction between calcium hyIndeed, some siliceous limestones (a.o., Kieselkalk
droxide, also known as Portlandite, or (Ca(OH)2 ), and
found in Switzerland)[5] may be cemented by amorsilicic acid (H4 SiO4 , or Si(OH)4 ). For the sake of simphous or poorly crystalline silica and can be very
plicity, this reaction can be schematically represented as
sensitive to the ASR reaction, as observed with some
following:
siliceous limestones exploited in quarries in the area
Ca(OH)2 + H4 SiO4 Ca2+ + H2 SiO4 2 + 2
of Tournai in Belgium.[6] So, the use of limestone
H2 O CaH2 SiO4 2 H2 O
as aggregate is not a guarantee against ASR in itself.
1

7
The silica content of the limestone and its reactivity
must remain below a threshold value that has to be
carefully experimentally assessed by the aggregate
producer.

REFERENCES

Alkali-Silica Reaction

ASTM C1567: Standard Test Method for Determining

the Potential Alkali-Silica Reactivity of Combinations
of Cementitious Materials and Aggregate (Accelerated
3. Add very ne siliceous materials to neutralize the Mortar-Bar Method)
excessive alkalinity of cement with silicic acid by The concrete microbar test was proposed by Grattanvoluntary provoking a controlled pozzolanic reac- Bellew et al. (2003) as a universal accelerated test for
tion at the early stage of the cement setting. Conve- alkali-aggregate reaction. [9]
nient pozzolanic materials to add to the mix may be,
e.g., pozzolan, silica fume, y ash, or metakaolin.[7]
These react preferentially with the cement alkalis
5 See also
without formation of an expansive pressure, because
siliceous minerals in ne particles convert to alkali
Alkali-carbonate reaction
silicate and then to calcium silicate without formation of semipermeable reaction rims.
Carbonatation
4. Another method to reduce the ASR is to limit the
external alkalis that come in contact with the system.
In other words, as it is sometimes possible to ght re
with re, it is also feasible to combat the ASR reaction
by itself. A prompt reaction initiated at the early stage of
concrete hardening on very ne silica particles will help to
suppress a slow and delayed reaction with large siliceous
aggregates on the long term. Following the same principle, the fabrication of low-pH cement also implies the
addition of nely divided pozzolanic materials rich in silicic acid to the concrete mix to decrease its alkalinity.
As part of a study conducted by the Federal Highway
Administration, a variety of methods have been applied
to eld structures suering from ASR-aected expansion and cracking. Some methods, such as the application of silanes, have shown signicant promise, especially
when applied to elements such as small columns and highway barriers, whereas other methods, such as the topical application of lithium compounds, have shown little
or no promise in reducing ASR-induced expansion and
cracking.[8]

ASR test

Some ASTM Tests that screen aggregate for the potential

of ASR include:
ASTM C 227: Test Method for Potential Alkali Reactivity of Cement-Aggregate Combinations (Mortar-Bar
Method)
ASTM C289: Standard Test Method for Potential AlkaliSilica Reactivity of Aggregates (Chemical Method)
ASTM C 295: Guide for Petrographic Examination of
Aggregate for Concrete
ASTM C1260: Test Method for Potential Reactivity of
Aggregates (Mortar-Bar-Test)
ASTM C1293: Test Method for Concrete Aggregates
by Determination of Length Change of Concrete Due to

Energetically modied cement (EMC)

6 External links
Understanding cement website treatise on ASR
PCA treatise on ASR
Concrete Construction Net treatise of ASR
US Federal Highway Administration treatise on the
use of lithium to prevent or mitigate ASR
Association of German Cement Works Alkalisilica reaction - overview

7 References
[1] FHWA (2010-06-22). Alkali-Silica Reactivity (ASR)
Concrete Pavements FHWA. Alkali-Silica Reactivity
(ASR) Development and Deployment Program. Archived
from the original on 8 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-0728.
[2] Faridazar, Fred (2009-02-10). TECHBRIEF: Selecting candidate structures for lithium treatment: What to
provide the petrographer along with concrete specimens,
FHWA-HRT-06-069 Pavements FHWA. FHWAHRT-06-069. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
[3] Alkalisilica reaction in concrete. Understanding Cement. Archived from the original on 10 August 2007.
Retrieved 2007-08-11.
[4] Ichikawa T. and Miura M. (2007) Modied model of
alkali-silica reaction. Cement and Concrete Research, 37,
12911297
[5] Funk, Hanspeter (1975).
The origin of authigenic quartz in the Helvetic Siliceous Limestone (Helvetischer Kieselkalk), Switzerland.
Sedimentology
Bibcode:1975Sedim..22..299F.
22 (2): 299306.
doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.1975.tb00296.x.

[6] Monnin, Y.; Dgrugilliers P.; Bulteel D.; GarciaDiaz E. (2006). Petrography study of two siliceous
limestones submitted to alkali-silica reaction. Cement and Concrete Research 36 (8): 14601466.
doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2006.03.025.
ISSN 00088846. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
[7] Ramlochan, Terrence; Michael Thomas; Karen A. Gruber
(2000). The eect of metakaolin on alkali-silica reaction
in concrete. Cement and Concrete Research 30 (3): 339
344. doi:10.1016/S0008-8846(99)00261-6. ISSN 00088846. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
[8] Publication Details for Alkali-Aggregate Reactivity
(AAR) Facts Book - Pavements - FHWA. dot.gov.
[9] Grattan-Bellew, P.E.; G. Cybanski; B. Fournier; L.
Mitchell (2003). Proposed universal accelerated test for
alkali-aggregate reaction: the concrete microbar test. Cement Concrete and Aggregates 25 (2): 2934.

8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1

Text

Alkalisilica reaction Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkali%E2%80%93silica%20reaction?oldid=657479606 Contributors:

Moondyne, Chowbok, Mr Adequate, CyrilleDunant, Dlauri, Tony1, SmackBot, Martylunsford, Chris the speller, Ahering@cogeco.ca,
Rieman 82, Alaibot, Dulciana, LinguisticDemographer, Nwbeeson, Rei-bot, Anna Lincoln, SieBot, Angel of Mons, Eiland, Shinkolobwe,
Addbot, Yobot, T.Ichikawa, Chris.urs-o, Garbagemania, FrescoBot, Citation bot 1, Tinton5, AXRL, RjwilmsiBot, DASHBot, Look2See1,
EdoBot, Bibcode Bot, BG19bot, IronOak, Registreernu, Shyncat, Project Osprey, Epic Failure, Prusinki, Monkbot and Anonymous: 14

8.2

Images

File:ASR_cracks_concrete_step_barrier_FHWA_2006.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/ASR_

cracks_concrete_step_barrier_FHWA_2006.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: From: Figure 1. Extensive map cracking in
several concrete barriers along State Highway 2 near Leominster, MA. In TechBrief: Selecting Candidate Structures for Lithium
Treatment: What To Provide the Petrographer Along With Concrete Specimens Publication No. FHWA-HRT-06-069 February
2006. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/pccp/pubs/06069/ Original artist: US Department of Transportation Federal Highway
Administration: Dr. P.E. Grattan-Bellew. Publication No. FHWA-HRT-06-069
File:Commons-logo.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?

8.3

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