FIELD EXPERIENCE WITH ALKALI-AGGREGATE REACTION IN CONCRETE: EASTERN UNITED STATES

FAILURE OF CONCRETE PAVEMENT BRIDGES IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES DUE TO CHEMICAL REACTION BETWEEN ALKALI (OXIDES OF SODIUM AND POTASSIUM) IN THE CEMENT AND SOLUBLE SILICON IN THE AGGREGATE IS COVERED. SEVERE PAVEMENT DISTRESS IN GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND ALABAMA WAS ASSOCIATED WITH CONCRETE OF OVER 0.6 PER CENT ALKALI CONTENT. QUARTZ GRAVELS WERE MORE DEFINITELY ASSOCIATED WITH CRACKING THAN OTHERS. FACTORS SUCH AS HIGH MAGNESIUM CONTENT, BLAST FURNACE SLAG AGGREGATE, AND THE USE OF WET CONCRETE WERE SEEN AS CONTRIBUTORY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE ABILITY TO CARRY THE IMPOSED LOAD WITHOUT EXCESSIVE REPAIRS IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE MAINTENANCE OF AN UNCRACKED SURFACE.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrbresearchrpts/1958/18C-004.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Research Board (HRB)

  Washington, DC   
• Authors:
  • Woolf, D O
• Publication Date: 1958

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 4p
• Monograph Title: The alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Research Reports
  • Issue Number: 18C
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates by source; Alkali aggregate reactions; Concrete; Durability; Pavement cracking
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aggregate sources
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00214074
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 29 1972 12:00AM