Impact of the alkali–silica reaction products on slow dynamics behavior of concrete

Several nondestructive techniques based on acoustics are frequently used to assess the condition of engineering materials. It has been demonstrated that nonlinear acoustics is more sensitive for detecting micro-cracks. The main challenge, regarding the assessment of alkali–silica reaction (ASR) damage in concrete, remains in the efficiency of the technique to distinguish ASR from other damaging process. Based on the fact that ASR produces a swelling viscous gel, a new approach developed for finding a signature to ASR is investigated in this paper. The research was focused upon the specific behavior of ASR causing the presence of viscous gels in micro-cracks and porosity compared with mechanical damage where cracks are empty. With this approach, the concrete response to slow dynamics tests was analyzed. The Burger spring–damping model was used for interpreting the results. This research showed that the slow dynamics technique presented here can detect cracking in concrete and that the time response to an external excitation of concrete damaged by ASR is different from that of concrete mechanically damaged.     

Effect of crack width on chloride diffusion coefficients of concrete by steady-state migration tests

The purpose of the present study is to explore the diffusion characteristics of cracked concrete according to the width of cracks. Major test variables include crack width, concrete strength, fly ash addition, and maximum aggregate size. The diffusion characteristics have been measured by steady-state migration test. The present study indicates that the diffusion coefficients do not increase with increasing crack widths up to the so-called “threshold crack width.” The threshold crack width for diffusion is found to be around 55–80 μm. Above this threshold value, the diffusion coefficients start to increase with crack width. A composite model with the introduction of “crack geometry factor” was derived to identify the diffusion coefficient in cracked concrete. It was shown that the crack geometry factor ranges from 0.067 to 0.206. Finally, the effects of concrete strength, fly ash addition and maximum aggregate size on diffusion coefficients are also discussed.     

Modelling chemical degradation of concrete during leaching with rain and soil water types

Percolation of external water through concrete results in the degradation of cement and changes the concrete pore water and solid phase composition. The assessment of long-term degradation of concrete is possible by means of model simulation. This paper describes simulations of chemical degradation of cement for different types of rain and soil water at an ambient earth surface temperature (10 °C). Rain and soil water types were derived using generic equations and measurement of atmospheric boundary conditions representative for North-Belgium. An up-to-date and consistent thermodynamic model is used to calculate the geochemical changes during chemical degradation of the concrete. A general pattern of four degradation stages was simulated with the third stage being the geochemically most complex stage involving reactions with calcium-silicate hydrates, AFm and AFt phases. Whereas the sequence of the dissolution reactions was relatively insensitive to the composition of the percolating water, the duration of the different reactions depends strongly on the percolating water composition. Major identified factors influencing the velocity of cement degradation are the effect of dry deposition and biological activity increasing the partial pressure of CO_2(g) in the soil air phase (and thus increasing the inorganic carbon content in the percolating water). Soil weathering processes have only a minor impact, at least for the relatively inert sandy material considered in this study.     

Nonlinear ultrasonic evaluation of load effects on discontinuities in concrete

The presence of discontinuity surfaces in concrete structures, i.e. two or more layers in contact, may be an existing situation with evident relapses on damage formation and progression. Differences occur depending on the type of discontinuity, which could be a thin weaker layer or a pre-existing crack. The behavior of pre-existing interfaces is here studied by means of the Scaling Subtraction Method, a Nonlinear Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Technique, that revealed to be effective in describing the mechanical evolution of concrete samples with discontinuity surfaces under the effects of compressive loads.     

Comprehensive modeling of chloride ion and water ingress into concrete considering thermal and carbonation state for real climate

This article presents a comprehensive modeling of temperature, carbonation, water and chloride ions transport in cover concrete using the transport model “TransChlor”. The TransChlor transport model employs weather data and chloride ion concentrations present on the concrete surface to predict the temporal and spatial evolution of the presence of chloride ion concentrations in the cover concrete pores. The main features of the TransChlor model are presented and validated.The TransChlor model has been calibrated using experimental data on liquid water movement in concrete of different permeabilities under realistic microclimatic conditions. Chloride ion transport is validated by means of experimental results obtained from a newly developed chloride ion optical fiber based sensor.     

Influence of aggregate size and volume fraction on shrinkage induced micro-cracking of concrete and mortar

In this paper, the influence of aggregate size and volume fraction on shrinkage induced micro-cracking and permeability of concrete and mortar was investigated. Nonlinear finite element analyses of model concrete and mortar specimens with regular and random aggregate arrangements were performed. The aggregate diameter was varied between 2 and 16 mm. Furthermore, a range of volume fractions between 0.1 and 0.5 was studied. The nonlinear analyses were based on a 2D lattice approach in which aggregates were simplified as monosized cylindrical inclusions. The analysis results were interpreted by means of crack length, crack width and change of permeability. The results show that increasing aggregate diameter (at equal volume fraction) and decreasing volume fraction (at equal aggregate diameter) increase crack width and consequently greatly increases permeability.     

Measurements of strain and humidity within massive concrete cylinders related to the formation of ASR surface cracks

This study aims at proving the validity of a notion that the formation of non-expansive near-surface layer is responsible for surface cracking in ASR-affected concretes by a laboratory experiment. Relationship between the progress rate of the front of non-expansive layer toward inner portions and the formation of the first surface cracks was scrutinized by measuring relative humidity (R.H.) values and strains within a massive concrete cylinder (?450 mm × 900 mm) with reactive aggregates under a dry environment. It was presumed from the measurements that a non-expansive layer of about 40 mm had been formed at the first cracking. Thereafter, the environmental humidity was raised to > 95% R.H. Pursuit of the growth of surface cracks and subsequent measurements of strains and R.H. values within the concrete cylinder under the moist environment suggested that the re-saturation continuously gave rise to the generation of tensile stresses in near-surface regions leading to active extension of surface cracks.     

Effect of water saturation and porosity on the nonlinear elastic response of concrete

Nonlinear interaction of a monochromatic elastic wave with a low frequency should be a good tool for non-destructive evaluation of existing concrete structures. Nonlinear indicators have already proved efficient in detecting global damage by exhibiting a significant sensitivity regarding classical linear ultrasonic methods like wave speed or attenuation. However, it is necessary to understand the influence of some structural parameters such as porosity, stress state, or water saturation on the nonlinear processes. In this way, a recent model containing all of these potential contributors is presented in this paper. It is sustained by nonlinear interaction experiments in impact mode. This method reveals a great potential for in situ measurements with a low frequency propagating into the whole structure. We make use of a calibrated concrete sample's series, conditioned at different water saturation states, to quantify the influence of water content and porosity on the nonlinear response of concrete.     

Carbonation assessment in concrete by nonlinear ultrasound

The carbonation process results in a change in the elastic properties of concrete, resulting in a variation of standard acoustic indicators such as wave speed. However, this evolution is too low to ensure an efficient carbonation assessment. The present communication focuses on the feasibility of carbonation assessment in concrete by applying Nonlinear Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (NRUS). The results show that the nonlinear parameter is significantly affected by the presence of carbonation, which is interpreted with respect to the evolution of concrete microstructure in the presence of this pathology.     

Probabilistic evaluation of initiation time in RC bridge beams with load-induced cracks exposed to de-icing salts

In this study, a reliability-based method for predicting the initiation time of reinforced concrete bridge beams with load-induced cracks exposed to de-icing salts is presented. A practical model for predicting the diffusion coefficient of chloride ingress into load-induced cracked concrete is proposed. Probabilistic information about uncertainties related to the surface chloride content and the threshold chloride concentration has been estimated from a wide review of previous experimental or statistical studies. Probabilistic analysis to estimate the time to corrosion initiation with/without considering the effect of the load-induced cracks on the chloride ingress into concrete has been carried out. Results of the analysis demonstrate the importance of considering the effect of the load-induced cracks for correct prediction of corrosion initiation in RC bridge beams exposed to chlorides.     

High temperature behaviour of self-consolidating concrete: Microstructure and physicochemical properties

This paper presents an experimental study on the properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) subjected to high temperature. Two SCC mixtures and one vibrated concrete mixture were tested. These concrete mixtures come from the French National Project B@P. The specimens of each concrete mixture were heated at a rate of 1 °C/min up to different temperatures (150, 300, 450 and 600 °C). In order to ensure a uniform temperature throughout the specimens, the temperature was held constant at the maximum temperature for 1 h before cooling. Mechanical properties at ambient temperature and residual mechanical properties after heating have already been determined. In this paper, the physicochemical properties and the microstuctural characteristics are presented. Thermogravimetric analysis, thermodifferential analysis, X-ray diffraction and SEM observations were used. The aim of these studies was in particular to explain the observed residual compressive strength increase between 150 and 300 °C.     

Is alkali-carbonate reaction just a variant of alkali-silica reaction ACR = ASR?

The mechanism of the alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR) has been recognized as being different from that of the more common alkali-silica reaction (ASR). However, the identification of alkali-silica gel in ACR concrete from Cornwall, Ontario, Canada by Katayama, in 1992 raised the possibility that ASR was at least playing a role in the ACR reaction. The acid insoluble residues of the ACR aggregate from Kingston, along with two other aggregates were analyzed to determine what might be contributing to the reaction. The acid insoluble residue of the ACR Kingston rock contains 96% quartz of high solubility in NaOH. Good correlation was found between the amount of quartz and expansion of concrete prisms indicating that the expansion was due mainly to an alkali-silica reaction. This conclusion is supported by observations, in 2008, by Katayama of gel in thin sections of concrete made with the Kingston aggregate. It is concluded that ACR = ASR.     

The so-called alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR) — Its mineralogical and geochemical details, with special reference to ASR

Typical examples of so-called alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR) in the Canadian field concretes in Ontario, CSA concrete prism, RILEM concrete microbars and RILEM mortar bar containing Pittsburg aggregate, were examined petrographically based on polarizing microscopy, SEM observation and quantitative SEM-EDS analysis of the reaction products. It was revealed that ASR gel was the main product responsible for the crack formation in concretes, and that this gel had a common nature to that in the typical ASR. That is, ASR gel presented distinctive compositional trend lines, passing from low-Ca ASR gel at [Ca/Si] = 1/2-1/6, [Ca]/[Na + K] = 1.0 to the “convergent point” with [Ca/Si] = 1.3-1.8, [Ca]/[Na + K] = 100 at which chemical equilibrium is attained with CSH gel. The so-called ACR is a combination of deleteriously expansive alkali-silica reaction (ASR) of cryptocrystalline quartz, and harmless dedolomitization which produces brucite and carbonate halo. In laboratory specimens, fine dolomitic aggregate undergoes dedolomitization, and brucite and ASR gel react to form non-expansive Mg-silicate gel on the dolomite crystals. This explains why the mortar bar produces smaller expansion than the concrete microbar, and why the reaction products are so minute that they escape attention by optical microscopy. As a crystalline counterpart, mountainite is a candidate for low-Ca ASR gel, while sepiolite is one for Mg-silicate gel. Concealed ASR was detected in ACR-affected field concretes undergoing ingress of deicing salt which formed Friedel's salt and Cl-doped CSH gel. Compositions of ASR products, methods of sample preparation and analysis for correct identification of ACR, and artifacts were critically reviewed.     

Corrosion process and structural performance of a 17 year old reinforced concrete beam stored in chloride environment

The long-term corrosion process of reinforced concrete beams is studied in this paper. The reinforced concrete elements were stored in a chloride environment for 17years under service loading in order to be representative of real structural conditions. At different stages, cracking maps were drawn, total chloride contents were measured and mechanical tests were performed. Results show that the bending cracks and their width do not influence significantly the service life of the structure. The chloride threshold at the reinforcement depth, used by standards as a single parameter to predict the end of the initiation period, is a necessary but not a sufficient parameter to define service life. The steel-concrete interface condition is also a determinant parameter. The bleeding of concrete is an important cause of interface de-bonding which leads to an early corrosion propagation of the reinforcements. The structural performance under service load (i.e.: stiffness in flexure) is mostly affected by the corrosion of the tension reinforcement (steel cross-section and the steel-concrete bond reduction). Limit-state service life design based on structural performance reduction in terms of serviceability shows that the propagation period of the corrosion process is an important part of the reinforced concrete service life.     

Effect of entrained air voids on the microstructure and mass transport properties of concrete

The effects of entrained air on microstructure and transport properties of concrete with up to 11.5% air at different w/c ratios, curing and conditioning regimes were investigated. It was found that air voids disrupt the packing of cement and increase the heterogeneity of the microstructure. The width of the affected interface is around 30 μm. Gaseous diffusivity and permeability are increased by up to a factor of 2–3 at the highest air contents. This effect is similar to that due to increasing w/c ratio from 0.35 to 0.50 when samples are conditioned at 52% r.h or 50 °C. The effect on sorptivity is less consistent, while the effect on electrical conductivity is influenced by the moisture condition of the air voids. It is estimated that every 1% increase in air content increases transport by 10% or decreases it by 4%, depending on whether the air voids act as conductors or insulators.     

Reactivity of reclaimed concrete aggregate produced from concrete affected by alkali-silica reaction

This paper presents results from a research program that focused on studying the reactivity of reclaimed concrete aggregate (RCA) produced from concrete affected by alkali-silica reaction (ASR). The results showed that RCA produced from ASR-affected concrete causes significant expansion when used in new concrete. The expansion was similar to that produced in concrete containing the reactive aggregate used originally in the old concrete. It is believed that crushing the old concrete exposed fresh faces of the reactive aggregate which causes renewed reaction and expansion in the new concrete. The alkalis contributed from the RCA are also believed to contribute to the expansion. The amount of supplementary cementing materials required to mitigate the expansion in new concrete containing ASR-affected RCA was higher than those normally needed in concrete containing the virgin reactive aggregate. The results showed a good agreement between the 14-day expansion of accelerated mortar bars and the expansion of concrete prisms.     

Electrical Resistance Tomography imaging of concrete

We apply Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) for three dimensional imaging of concrete. In ERT, alternating currents are injected into the target using an array of electrodes attached to the target surface, and the resulting voltages are measured using the same electrodes. These boundary measurements are used for reconstructing the internal (3D) conductivity distribution of the target. In reinforced concrete, the metallic phases (reinforcing bars and fibers), cracks and air voids, moisture gradients, and the chloride distribution in the matrix carry contrast with respect to conductivity. While electrical measurements have been widely used to characterize the properties of concrete, only preliminary results of applying ERT to concrete imaging have been published so far. The aim of this paper is to carry out a feasibility evaluation with specifically cast samples. The results indicate that ERT may be a feasible modality for non-destructive evaluation of concrete.     

Chloride-induced corrosion products of steel in cracked-concrete subjected to different loading conditions

This project focused on examining the composition and distribution of chloride-induced corrosion products at the rebar-concrete interfaces and on crack surfaces in reinforced ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPCC) and high performance concrete (HPC) subjected to different loading conditions. The results indicated that, regardless of the type of loading, there was a larger distribution of corrosion products along the rebar surface in the HPC than in the OPCC. Also, dynamic loading caused a greater detachment of the aggregate-paste bond in OPCC than static loading. The opening and closing of the cracks in salt solution under dynamic load forced corrosion products to flow from the rebar-concrete interface into the cracks in both OPCC and HPC. As a result, corrosion products diffused from the crack into the cement paste in the dynamically loaded OPCC but remained in the cracks in the dynamically loaded HPC, where they induced branched cracks. The mill-scale on the rebar was also evaluated before and after being embedded in concrete and was observed to be porous allowing ingress of species from the cement paste.     

The corrosion pattern of reinforcement and its influence on serviceability of reinforced concrete members in chloride environment

This paper deals with two corroded reinforcement concrete beams, which have been stored under sustained load in a chloride environment for 14 and 23 years respectively. The evolution of corrosion pattern of reinforcement and its influence on serviceability are studied. In chloride-induced corrosion process, corrosion cracking affects significantly the corrosion pattern. During the corrosion cracking initiation period, only local pitting corrosion occurs. At early stage of cracking propagation, localized pitting corrosion is still predominant as cracks widths are very small and cracks are not interconnected, but a general corrosion slowly develops as the cracks widen. At late cracking stage, interconnected cracking with wide width develops along large parts of the beam leading to a general corrosion pattern. Macrocells and microcells concepts are used for the interpretation of the results.Mechanical experiments and corrosion simulation tests are performed to clarify the influence of this corrosion pattern evolution on the serviceability of the beams (deflection increase). Experimental results show that, when the corrosion is localized (early cracking stage), the steel–concrete bond loss is the main factor affecting the beams serviceability. The local cross-section loss resulting from pitting attack does not significantly influence the deflection of the beam. When corrosion is generalized (late cracking stage), as the steel–concrete bond is already lost, the generalized steel cross-section reduction becomes the main factor affecting the beams serviceability. But, at this stage, the deflection increase is slower due to the low general corrosion rate.