Length Change of Concrete Due To Alkali-Carbonate Rock Reaction
Length Change of Concrete Due To Alkali-Carbonate Rock Reaction
Length Change of Concrete Due To Alkali-Carbonate Rock Reaction
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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either by petrographic examination, Guide C 295, by the rock amounts expected to be used in the work. If several cements
cylinder test, Test Method C 586, by service record; or by a may be used in the work, it is desirable that tests be made using
combination of these. each cement separately.
4.4 Results of tests conducted as described herein should 6.3 Reference Cements—When it is desired to evaluate
form a part of the basis for a decision as to whether precautions aggregates for general use or to compare aggregates for
be taken against excessive expansion due to alkali-carbonate investigational purposes, the cement used shall be of the
rock reaction. This decision should be made before a particular highest alkali content representative of the general use in-
cement-aggregate combination is used in concrete construction tended, or available to the laboratory making the tests. The
(see Note 1). cement or cements selected should comply with Specification
C 150 or Specification C 595. Additional information of value
NOTE 1—Other elements that may be included in the decision-making
process for categorizing an aggregate or a cement-aggregate combination may be obtained by conducting parallel tests with cements of
with respect to whether precautions are needed, and examples of precau- different alkali content, of different sodium oxide to potassium
tions that may be taken, are described in Appendix X1. oxide ratio, or blended with pozzolan or ground blast-furnace
4.5 While the basic intent of this test method is to develop slag, or both.
information on a particular cement-aggregate combination, it 6.4 Substitute Fine Aggregate—If the test aggregate is to be
will usually be very useful to conduct control tests in parallel used only as coarse aggregate and the fine aggregate that it will
using the aggregate of interest with other cements or the be used with is not available, a fine aggregate that is not
cement of interest with other aggregates. expected to participate in an expansive reaction with alkalies
(see Note 2) shall be used.
5. Apparatus
NOTE 2—Advice on judging the expansive reactivity of aggregate is
5.1 The mold, the associated items for molding test speci- given in Appendix XI of Specification C 33.
mens, and the length comparator for measuring length change
shall conform to the applicable requirements of Test Method 7. Sampling
C 157 and Practice C 490. 7.1 Obtain the sample in accordance with Practice D 75 and
6. Materials reduce it to test portion size in accordance with Practice C 702.
6.1 Maximum Size of Coarse Aggregate—Coarse-aggregate 8. Test Specimens
fractions larger than the 19.0-mm (3⁄4-in.) sieve shall not be 8.1 Prepare six specimens, of the type required for concrete
tested as such. When petrographic examination using Guide Test Method C 157, having square cross-sections of 75.0 6 0.7
C 295 reveals that the material making up the size fractions mm or 3.00 6 0.03 in. from one batch of concrete. The
larger than the 19.0-mm sieve is of such a composition and concrete mixture shall be the mixture in which the aggregates
lithology that no differences should be expected compared with are proposed for use. In the event that no specific concrete
the smaller size material to be tested, or when tests, made in mixture is being considered, that described in Test Method
accordance with Test Method C 586, of material in such sizes C 233 may be used.
reveal no significant differences from the sizes to be tested, 8.2 If control or comparison mixtures are made, specimens
then no further attention need be paid to the larger sizes. If shall be made from those mixtures as described in 8.1.
results of petrographic examination or tests made in accor-
dance with Test Method C 586 suggest that the larger size 9. Conditioning
material should be studied for its effects in concrete, one or the 9.1 Cure, store, and remove molds in accordance with Test
other of two alternative procedures described herein may be Method C 157. Thereafter, keep the specimens in moist storage
used. in accordance with Specification C 511 but do not immerse in
6.1.1 Proportional Testing—Material larger than the water.
19.0-mm (3⁄4-in.) sieve shall be crushed to pass the 19.0-mm
sieve and material larger than the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve shall 10. Procedure
be proportioned to include the same proportion by mass of the 10.1 Follow the procedure of Test Method C 157 except,
crushed material originally retained on the 19.0-mm sieve and length measurements shall be made at ages 7, 28, and 56 days,
that originally passing this sieve, as may be expected to be used and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
in the field concrete.
6.1.2 Separated Size Testing—Material larger than the 11. Calculation
19.0-mm (3⁄4-in.) sieve shall be crushed to pass this sieve and 11.1 Calculate the change in length of each of the prisms at
shall be used in concrete as a second aggregate. each of the ages at which determinations are made and express
6.1.2.1 In the case of construction where several size ranges as a percentage change based on the length at the time of
coarser than the 19.0-mm (3⁄4-in.) sieve are contemplated, each removal from the mold at an age of 231⁄2 6 1⁄2 h. Calculate the
of these may, if desired, be separately crushed to pass this sieve average length change in percentage for the group of prisms.
and may be tested separately. 11.2 Data from at least three bars must be available at any
6.2 Job Cement—When it is desired to evaluate a particular age to constitute a valid test at that age.
cement-aggregate combination for use in particular work, the
cement or cements used shall meet the requirements for the 12. Report
work and shall be from the source or sources and in the 12.1 Report the following information:
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12.1.1 Pertinent details about materials and mixtures used, Calculated expected 1S associated with a mean 0.002 % 0.003 %
12.1.2 The length change in percentage for each specimen of 3 bars
Maximum permissible difference between two 0.005 % 0.008 %
and for the group of prisms at each test age, and such means in properly conducted tests should
12.1.3 Description of the circumstances under which results not exceed
on any one of the specimens are not included in the average. A
As described in Practice C 670.
6 13.1.2 Multilaboratory Precision—In studies involving 12
13. Precision and Bias
and 20 laboratories [,8], testing three specimens rather than the
13.1 Precision: six specified in this test method, and testing nominal 19 mm
13.1.1 Single-Operator Precision—The precision statement maximum size coarse aggregates known to be susceptible to
is based on calculations made using data reported by Buck (2). alkalicarbonate rock reaction, in concrete mixtures with a
The particular within-laboratory variability for which precision cement content of 310 kg/m3 (522 lb/yd3), the multilaboratory
is reported was obtained by a single operator, using the same precision was found to be as follows:
materials and equipment over a short period of time. The 13.1.2.1 For concrete with an average expansion less than
single-operator standard deviation (1sA) does not vary appre- 0.014 % the multilaboratory standard deviation of a single test
ciably with age over the range of 90 through 365 days. result (mean of measurements on three prisms) for average
Standard deviation varies with the magnitude of the expansion expansion less than 0.014 % has been found to be 0.0032 %.
described as follows: Therefore, results of two properly conducted tests in different
Average % Expansion laboratories using the same aggregate should not differ by more
<0.040 % $0.040 %
than 0.009 %.7
Single-operator standard deviation (1s) among 0.003 % 0.005 % 13.1.2.2 For concrete with an average expansion greater
individual bars than 0.014 % the multilaboratory coefficient of variation of a
Maximum difference (d2sA) between extreme
values within a set of bars in a properly single test result (mean of measurements on three prisms) for
conducted test should not exceed: average expansion greater than 0.014 % has been found to be
23 %. Therefore, results of two properly conducted tests in
number of bars in set
6 0.013 % 0.021 % different laboratories using the same aggregate should not
5 0.012 % 0.020 % differ from each other by more than 65 % of their average.7
4 0.012 % 0.019 % 13.2 Bias—A statement on bias has not been developed
3 0.011 % 0.017 %
since no reference materials are available.
6 7
Supporting data are available from ASTM International Headquarters. Request: These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s %) and (d2s %) limits as
RR: C-9-1002. described in Practice C 670.
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1.1 The question of whether or not criterion based on the X1.4 When it has been concluded from the results of tests
results obtained using this test method should be used for performed using this test method and supplementary informa-
acceptance of materials for use as concrete aggregate will be tion from petrographic examination, rock-prism testing, service
dealt with, if deemed appropriate, in Specification C 33. records, or combinations of these, that a given cement-
aggregate combination is potentially deleteriously expansive,
X1.2 Work has been reported from which it may be inferred additional studies may be appropriate to develop information
that a cement-aggregate combination might reasonably be
on the potential expansion of other combinations containing
classified as potentially deleteriously reactive if the average
the same cement with other aggregates, the same aggregate
expansion of six concrete specimens is equal to or greater than:
with other cements, or the same cement-aggregate combination
0.015 % at 3 months; 0.025 % at 6 months; or 0.030 % at 1
with a pozzolan or slag.
year (1,2). Data for later ages are preferred but the 3-month or
6-month average may be used if necessary.
X1.5 If a cement-aggregate combination tested using this
X1.3 If this test method has been performed on a cement- test method is judged by the results to be “non-reactive,” no
aggregate combination involving an aggregate that has not restrictions on the use of the aggregate with the cement used in
been examined petrographically using Practice C 295, or that the test are necessary in order to protect against probable
has not been measured by the rock prism expansion in Test alkali-carbonate rock reaction. If the combination is judged to
Method C 586, it is recommended that one or both of those be “reactive,” measures to control the effects of the reaction
procedures be performed. (3,4) include:
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X1.5.1 The use of the smallest nominal maximum size X1.5.3 Use of a cement having no greater an alkali content
coarse aggregate that is practical. than a cement tested using test method for which the results are
X1.5.2 A maximum of 20 % reactive rock in the coarse judged to be “non-reactive.”
aggregate, 20 % reactive rock in the fine aggregate, or a total of X1.5.4 Additional useful information about this chemical
15 % reactive rock if the coarse and fine aggregate both contain reaction is included in (5-7).
reactive rock.
REFERENCES
(1) Newlon, H. H., and Sherwood, W. C.,“ A Study of Remedial Methods (6) Walker, H. N., “Chemical Reactions of Carbonate Aggregates in
for Reducing Alkali-Carbonate Reaction,’’ Progress Report No. Cement Paste,’’ Significance of Tests and Properties of Concrete and
4—Potentially Reactive Carbonate Rocks, Virginia Council of High- Concrete-Making Materials, ASTM STP169B, ASTM, 1978, pp.
ways Investigation and Research, May 1963. 722–743.
(2) Buck, A. D., “Control of Reactive Carbonate Rocks in Concrete,’’ (7) Rogers, C. A., “Evaluation of the Potential for Expansion and
Technical Report C-75-3, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Cracking of Concrete Caused by the Alkali-Carbonate Reaction,’’
Station, CE, September 1975. Cement, Concrete, and Aggregates, Vol. 8, No. 1, Summer 1986, pp.
(3) Newlon, H. H., Sherwood, W. C., and Ozol, M. A.,“ A Strategy for Use 13–23.
and Control of Potentially Reactive Carbonate Rocks’’ (Including an (8) Rogers, C. A.,“ Interlaboratory Study of the Concrete Prism Expansion
Annotated Bibliography of Virginia Research), Progress Report No. Test for the Alkali-Carbonate Reaction,” Proceedings of the 7th
8—Potentially Reactive Carbonate Rocks—Virginia Council of High- International Conference on Concrete Alkali-Aggregate Reactions,
ways Investigation and Research, June 1972. Ottawa, Published by Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, N.J., 1987, pp.
(4) Mather, Bryant, “Developments in Specifications and Control,’’ 270–274.
Cement-Aggregate Reaction, Transportation Research Record 525, (9) Rogers, C. A.,“ Interlaboratory Study of the Concrete Prism Expansion
National Research Council, 1974, pp. 38–42. Test for the Alkali-Carbonate Reaction,” Canadian Developments in
(5) Hadley, D. W., “Alkali Reactivity of Dolomitic Carbonate Rocks,’’ Testing Concrete Aggregates for Alkali-Aggregate Reactivity, Ontario
Highway Research Record 45, Highway Research Board, 1964, pp. Ministry of Tranportation, Engineering Materials Report EM-92,
1–19. March 1990, pp. 136–149.
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