Title:

Alkali Aggregate
reaction

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UET PESHAWAR

Outline
• What is AAR and why is it important?

• How does AAR work?

• How can AAR damage be prevented?

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Definition
• Alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) is a chemically
reaction in concrete that can induce the premature
distress and loss in serviceability

• Earlier aggregate was consider as inert material

but later in 1940 it was identified that aggregate is
not fully inert

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Basic Concept
• The micro pores of matrix of concrete is filled with highly
basic fluid that consist mainly of dissolved alkali
hydroxide ( K+ , Na + OH- ) with minor amount of (Ca+,
SO4- etc)
• Some mineral within coarse or fine aggregate are highly
reactive ( chemically unstable ) and react deleteriously
under in such high PH environment.
• Sometime it produce premature distress ( i.e. internal
expansion cracking, loss of serviceability of the effected
element)

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UET PESHAWAR

Alkali AGG Reaction
Alkali-aggregate reaction is a chemical reaction between certain
types of aggregates and hydroxyl ions (OH-) associated with alkalis
(Sodium Oxide and Potassium Oxide) in the cement.
Usually, the alkalis come from the Portland cement but they may
also come from other ingredients in the concrete or from the
environment.
Under some conditions, the reaction may result in damaging
expansion and cracking of the concrete.
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Alkali AGG Reaction
Concrete deterioration caused by alkali-aggregate reaction is
generally slow, but progressive.

Cracking due to alkali aggregate reaction generally becomes

visible when concrete is 5 to 10 years old.

The cracks facilitate the entry of de-icing salt solutions that may
cause corrosion of the reinforcing steel, thereby accelerating
deterioration and weakening a structure.

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TYPES OF AAR
Alkali-aggregate reaction has two forms:
❖ Alkali-silica reaction (ASR)
- Alkali reaction with amorphous silica;
- Alkali reaction with silicates caused by reactions in polyphase
siliceous aggregates (shale, granite, sandstone).

❖ Alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR).

- Alkali reaction with dolomitic carbonates

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Alkali-Silica Reaction ( ASR)
This is the most common form of alkali aggregate reaction and
results from the presence of certain siliceous aggregates in the
concrete found in some granites, gneisses, volcanic rocks,
greywackes, argillites, and siliceous limestones.

In ASR, aggregates containing certain forms of silica will react

with alkali hydroxide in concrete to form a gel that swells as it
adsorbs water from the surrounding cement paste or the
environment.

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 Alkali-Silica Reaction ( ASR)
▪ These gels can swell and induce enough expansive pressure to
damage concrete. The product of the alkali-silica reaction is a gel
that absorbs water and increases in volume.
▪ Pressure generated by the swelling gel ruptures the aggregate
particles and causes cracks to extend into the surrounding
concrete.

▪ alkali-silica reaction results in the formation of map-pattern

cracking of the concrete.

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 Alkali-Silica Reaction ( ASR)
In general, the reaction can be viewed as a two-step process :

Step 1:

• Silica + alkali alkali-silica gel (sodium silicate)

• SiO2 + 2NaOH + H2O Na2SiO3.2H2O

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Alkali-Silica Reaction ( ASR)
Step 2:

• Gel reaction product + water expansion

• Since the gel is restrained by the surrounding mortar, an internal

pressure is generated by the swelling. Once that pressure is
larger than the tensile strength of the concrete, cracks occur
leading to additional water migration or absorption and additional
gel swelling.

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Condition required for ASR
• A sufficiently high alkali content of the cement (or alkali from
other sources)

• A reactive aggregate, such as chert

• Water - ASR will not occur if there is no available water in the

concrete, since alkali-silica gel formation requires water.

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SUMMARY

Alkalis
+ Concrete expansion and
Reactive Silica ASR Gel which
cracking
+ Expand
Moisture

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Alkalies
Alkalies

Main catains:

1. Na+
2. K+

Common Source:

1. Portland cement
2. water

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Reactive silica
Silica Amorphous Crystalline silica
tetrahedron silica

Amorphous silica is more reactive

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Water
• Found in pores space of concrete

Source
• Addition of water for concrete mix
• Moist environment

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Silicon Aggregate solution

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Reactive silica

Surface of
aggregate
is attacked
by OH-

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 Reactive silica
Silanol groups (Si-OH) on
surface are broken down by
OH- into SiO- molecules

Si-OH + OH- SiO- +

H20

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Reactive silica
Released SiO- molecules
attract alkali cations in
pore solution, forming an
alkali-silica gel around the
aggregate.
Si-OH + Na+ OH-
Si-O-Na + H20

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Reactive silica
• Alkali-silica gel takes in
water, expanding and
exerting an osmotic
pressure against the
surrounding paste or
aggregate

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Reactive silica
• When the expansionary
pressure exceeds the
tensile strength of the
concrete, the concrete
cracks

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Reactive silica
• When cracks reach the
surface of a structure,
map cracking results.

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 • Once ASR damage has begun:

• Expansion and cracking of concrete

• Increased permeability

• More water and external alkalis

penetrate concrete

• Increased ASR damage

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DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UET PESHAWAR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UET PESHAWAR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UET PESHAWAR
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DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UET PESHAWAR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UET PESHAWAR
Controlling ASR
1. Selection of Non reactive aggregates
2. Supplementary cementing materials or blended
cements
3. Lithium based admixtures such as pozzolanas
4. By use of low alkali cement
5. Controlling void space in concrete
6. Controlling moisture content

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ALKALI CARBONATE
REACTION (ACR)
The alkali–carbonate reaction is an alteration process
degradation of concert containing dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2)
aggregates.

The alkali-carbonate reaction is much less understood than

the alkali-silica reaction.

Both reactions share in common the continuous regeneration

of the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) after the reaction of
soluble sodium carbonate or sodium silicate with calcium
hydroxide Ca(OH).
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ALKALI CARBONATE REACTION
(ACR)
However, impure dolomitic aggregates also often
contain clay impurities, and small amounts of pyrite (FeS).

• Mechanism of
expansion is
different in
ASR and ACR

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DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UET PESHAWAR
How to control (ACR)
▪ Selective quarrying to avoid reactive aggregate
▪ Blend of aggregate should be according to ASTM
Standard
▪ Limit the aggregate size

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UET PESHAWAR