Untersuchungen zur Alkali-Kieselsäure-Reaktion in vorgeschädigten Fahrbahndeckenbetonen

Investigations into alkali-silica reaction in pre-damaged pavement concretes

In concrete elements, simultaneously subjected to cyclic loadings and external alkalis, the risk for damages caused by or under participation of an alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is particularly high. This concerns especially concrete pavements due to the increasing heavy load traffic and the wintry application of NaCl deicer. Notably the role of a mechanical pre-damage of concrete caused by traffic loadings on the course of the ASR is largely unclear. A part of the investigations that has been conducted since 2012 into this issue within the scope of the DFG (German research foundation) funded research group 1498 shall be introduced in the following. It was evident that an ASR in defined mechanically pre-damaged concrete prisms with alkali-reactive aggregates and under an external supply of alkalis started earlier than in equal prisms without a pre-damage. The reason for this is the faster and deeper ingress of water and particularly of dissolved NaCl into the concrete, by what Na ions as reaction partner for an ASR are available earlier and, in the long-term, in greater amounts too.