Residual alkali–silica reaction of coarse recycled concrete aggregate based on the application of a prescriptive measure from the Argentinian regulation

Abstract

The potential reactivity of a coarse recycled concrete aggregate (CRCA) obtained from concrete damaged by alkali–silica reaction (ASR) was evaluated by the concrete prism test method. Different recycled aggregate replacement percentages and exposure conditions were considered. Moreover, the use of Portland-limestone cement (PLC) as a preventive measure to mitigate the deleterious effect of ASR according to the Argentinian regulation was considered to evaluate the residual expansion of the CRCA. Expansions were recorded up to the age of 156 weeks, and different mechanical properties were also determined. The use of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) leads to an increase in ASR expansions for recycled concretes as CRCA content increases, whereas when PLC is used, expansions remain lower than the limits fixed in the standard test method, even at older ages.

Keywords:

• Recycled concrete
• alkali–silica reaction
• preventive action
• Portland-limestone cement
• compressive strength
• static modulus of elasticity

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Alejandro Pittori (CICPBA-LEMIT) for his collaboration, and LEMIT (CICPBA), Centro de Geología Aplicada, Agua y Medio Ambiente (CGAMA, CIC-UNS), Geology Department of Universidad Nacional del Sur for their support.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data availability statement

All data, models and code generated or used during the study appear in the submitted article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development and Innovation (Agencia I + D + i) under Grant No. PICT2015-3339.