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Alkali-Silica Reactivity (ASR) Risk Assessment and Mitigation in Tennessee

Project Details
STATE

TN

SOURCE

TRID

START DATE

10/01/15

END DATE

11/30/21

RESEARCHERS

Ammar Abd-Elssamd, John Z. Ma

SPONSORS

Tennessee Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

KEYWORDS

Aggregates, Alkali carbonate reactions, Alkali silica reactions, Concrete pavements, Pavement cracking, Risk assessment

LINKS

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Project description

Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is recognized as a major cause of concrete deterioration. Identifying the aggregate reactivity to ASR is one of the most efficient ways for preventing concrete cracking damage in practice. Many aggregates, especially the surface aggregates, used in Tennessee have a relatively high siliceous content (e.g. gravels, siliceous limestones, granites, and quartzite). Aggregates with ASR potential in Tennessee could have been used in the existing concrete structures and will be probably used even more in the future high-volume transportation projects. This report summarizes the findings of a two-phase research project to assess and mitigate the risk of Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR) in the state of Tennessee. ASR reactivity of surface aggregates from 76 different local sources in Tennessee was evaluated in Phase I. Mitigation alternatives to minimize the ASR risk of reactive aggregates were proposed in Phase II. Category guideline on the ASR reactivity property of the aggregates within Tennessee has been developed. A statewide aggregate ASR risk database with detailed field and laboratory performance is presented which can be used to prevent ASR cracking damage of statewide transportation structures.
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