Three decades of international RILEM activities to combat deleterious Alkali-Silica Reactions (ASR) in concrete.

Abstract

Since 1988, the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM) Technical Committees (TCs) have been seeking to establish universally applicable test methods for assessing the alkali-reactivity potential of aggregates, and from later on, for concrete mixes. TC 106 (1988 – 2001) focused on accelerated aggregate tests. The successor committee TC 191-ARP (2001 – 2006) also included work on diagnosis/appraisal & specification. TC 219-ACS (2006 – 2014) introduced work on performance testing & modelling. The major recommendations were published as a RILEM State-of-the-art Report in 2016. In 2014, TC 258-AAA was established, scheduling to finish the work on performance-based assessment in 2019. This current TC is focusing on the following Work Packages; WP1Performance based testing concepts, WP2 Relationship between results from laboratory and field and the establishment of field exposure sites, WP3 Testing of potential alkalis released from certain types of aggregates and measurement of internal concrete alkali content, and eventually; WP4 Verification of alkalis released from aggregates.