Influence of Water on Alkali-Silica Reaction: Experimental Study and Numerical Simulations

Abstract

Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a concrete pathology due to chemical reactions involving reactive silica from reactive aggregates and the inner solution of concrete. Main effects are swelling, cracking, and reduction in the mechanical properties of affected concretes. Water is very important for ASR; the more available water, the more expansion and degradation. This article presents new laws for modeling of the influence of water upon ASR. They are based on experimental results and then used to simulate results taken out of the scientific literature.