EXAMINATION OF CONCRETE FROM THE M40 MOTORWAY

An earlier survey of concrete road pavements in Great Britain identified the stokenchurch section of the M40, oxfordshire, as one of the sites where alkali-silica reaction had occurred. Therfore, a more detailed systematic coring programme of one of the slabs was carried out in order to identify the degree and location of the reaction. It was found that the alkali-silica reaction was associated with the joints; these were poorly sealed and the concrete in the vicinity was already heavily cracked due to other physical factors. This allowed water, laden with de-icing salt, to penetrate into the interior of the concrete. This initiated the reaction in the concrete, which under normal conditions and alkali levels would have been regarded as stable. It is probable that without this ingress of water and salt into the interior of the concrete, no reaction would have occurred. The reactive aggregate was identified as the highly porous white flint in the thames valley river gravel, other flints and silica rocks in the gravel were considered to be unreactive. Advice is given for avoiding the problem of alkali-silica reaction in present and future concrete roads: it includes ensuring that joints are properly constructed, sealed and maintained. (a) (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02665247
• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • SIBBICK, R G
  • WEST, G
• Publication Date: 1989

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 17 p.
• Serial:
  • TRRL RESEARCH REPORT
  • Issue Number: RR 1
  • Publisher: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
  • ISSN: 0266-5247

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Alkali; Chemical reactions; Cracking; Deterioration; Flint; Freeways; Joint sealing; Joints; Oxides; Rigid pavements; Silicon; Spalling; Unreinforced concrete
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 4577: Aggregate; 7353: Alkali; 4755: Concrete; 5211: Cracking; 5255: Deterioration; 4170: Flint; 2998: Joint (structural); 3608: Joint sealing; 2752: Motorway; 7372: Oxide; 7156: Reaction (chem); 2964: Rigid pavement; 7148: Silicon; 5231: Spalling; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00499396
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: 97
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM