The Use of Lithium to Prevent Or Mitigate Alkali-Silica Reaction in Concrete Pavements and Structures
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The Use of Lithium to Prevent or Mitigate Alkali-Silica Reaction in Concrete Pavements and Structures PUBLIcatION NO. FHWA-HRT-06-133 MARCH 2007 Research, Development, and Technology Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 6300 Georgetown Pike McLean, VA 22101-2296 Foreword Progress is being made in efforts to combat alkali-silica reaction in portland cement concrete structures—both new and existing. This facts book provides a brief overview of laboratory and field research performed that focuses on the use of lithium compounds as either an admixture in new concrete or as a treatment of existing structures. This document is intended to provide practitioners with the necessary information and guidance to test, specify, and use lithium compounds in new concrete construction, as well as in repair and service life extension applications. This report will be of interest to engineers, contractors, and others involved in the design and specification of new concrete, as well as those involved in mitigation of the damaging effects of alkali-silica reaction in existing concrete structures. Gary L. Henderson, P.E. Director, Office of Infrastructure Research and Development Notice This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein only because they are considered essential to the objective of this manual. Quality Assurance Statement The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement. Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. FHWA-HRT-06-133 No. 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date The Use of Lithium To Prevent or Mitigate Alkali-Silica Reaction March 2007 in Concrete Pavements and Structures 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Michael D.A. Thomas, Benoit Fournier, Kevin J. Folliard, Jason H. Ideker, and Yadhira Resendez 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. The Transtec Group, Inc. 6111 Balcones Drive Austin, TX 78731 11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-02-C-00097 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Office of Infrastructure R&D Final Report Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, HRDI-11 6300 Georgetown Pike, Room F-209 14. Sponsoring Agency Code McLean, VA 22101 15. Supplementary Notes Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative: Fred Faridazar, HRDI-12 16. Abstract Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) was first identified as a form of concrete deterioration in the late 1930s (Stanton 1940). Approximately 10 years later, it was discovered that lithium compounds can be used to control expansion due to ASR. There has recently been increased interest in using lithium technologies to both control ASR in new concrete and to retard the reaction in existing ASR-affected structures. This facts book provides information on lithium, its origin and properties, and on its applications. The mechanism of alkali-silica reaction is discussed together with methods of testing to identify potentially alkali-silica reactive aggregates. Traditional methods for minimizing the risk of damaging ASR are presented; these include the avoidance of reactive aggregates, controlling the levels of alkali in concrete and using supplementary cementing materials such as fly ash, slag and silica fume. The final two sections of the facts book discuss the use of lithium, first as an admixture for new concrete construction and second as a treatment for existing concrete structures affected by ASR. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement alkali-silica reaction, lithium, concrete durability, mitigation, No Restrictions. This document is fresh concrete, hardened concrete, case studies, laboratory available to the public through the testing, field investigation, existing structures National Technical Information Service; Springfield, VA 22161 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified page) 47 Unclassified Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72 Reproduction of completed page authorized. SI* (MODERN METRIC) CONVERSION FACTORS APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol LENGTH in inches 25.4 millimeters mm ft feet 0.305 meters m yd yards 0.914 meters m mi miles 1.61 kilometers km AREA in2 square inches 645.2 square millimeters mm2 ft2 square feet 0.093 square meters m2 yd2 square yard 0.836 square meters m2 ac acres 0.405 hectares ha mi2 square miles 2.59 square kilometers km2 VOLUME fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters mL gal gallons 3.785 liters L ft3 cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m3 yd3 cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m3 NOTE: volumes greater than 1000 L shall be shown in m3 MASS oz ounces 28.35 grams g lb pounds 0.454 kilograms kg T short tons (2000 lb) 0.907 megagrams (or "metric ton") Mg (or "t") TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) oF Fahrenheit 5 (F-32)/9 Celsius oC or (F-32)/1.8 ILLUMINATION fc foot-candles 10.76 lux lx fl foot-Lamberts 3.426 candela/m2 cd/m2 FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS lbf poundforce 4.45 newtons N lbf/in2 poundforce per square inch 6.89 kilopascals kPa APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS FROM SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol LENGTH mm millimeters 0.039 inches in m meters 3.28 feet ft m meters 1.09 yards yd km kilometers 0.621 miles mi AREA mm2 square millimeters 0.0016 square inches in2 m2 square meters 10.764 square feet ft2 m2 square meters 1.195 square yards yd2 ha hectares 2.47 acres ac km2 square kilometers 0.386 square miles mi2 VOLUME mL milliliters 0.034 fluid ounces fl oz L liters 0.264 gallons gal m3 cubic meters 35.314 cubic feet ft3 m3 cubic meters 1.307 cubic yards yd3 MASS g grams 0.035 ounces oz kg kilograms 2.202 pounds lb Mg (or "t") megagrams (or "metric ton") 1.103 short tons (2000 lb) T TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) oC Celsius 1.8C+32 Fahrenheit oF ILLUMINATION lx lux 0.0929 foot-candles fc cd/m2 candela/m2 0.2919 foot-Lamberts fl FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS N newtons 0.225 poundforce lbf kPa kilopascals 0.145 poundforce per square inch lbf/in2 *SI is the symbol for the International System of Units. Appropriate rounding should be made to comply with Section 4 of ASTM E380. (Revised March 2003) ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................1 CHAPTER 2. LITHIUM—PROPERTIES AND PRODUCTION...............................3 CHAPTER 3. ALKALI-AGGREGATE REACTION...................................................7 3.1 Terminology----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 3.2 Mechanisms of ASR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 3.3 Symptoms of ASR------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 3.4 Methods of Evaluating Potential Reactivity of Aggregates----------------------------------------- 11 3.4.1 Field Performance................................................................................................................. 11 3.4.2 ASR Testing in the Laboratory ............................................................................................. 11 3.5 Measures To Prevent ASR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 3.6 Treating Existing ASR-Affected Pavements and Structures--------------------------------------- 18 CHAPTER 4. USING LITHIUM TO PREVENT ASR IN NEW CONCRETE.......21 4.1 Laboratory Studies ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 4.2 Field Applications ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 4.3 Laboratory Testing To Determine the Amount of Lithium Required --------------------------- 25 4.4 Effect of Lithium on the Properties of Concrete------------------------------------------------------ 26 CHAPTER 5. USE OF LITHIUM TO TREAT EXISTING ASR-AFFECTED STRUCTURES ................................................................................................................27 5.1 Laboratory Studies ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 5.2 Field Applications ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 5.2.1 Topical Treatment with Lithium........................................................................................... 27 5.2.2 Electrochemical Lithium Impregnation ................................................................................ 29 5.2.3 Vacuum Impregnation With Lithium.................................................................................... 31 5.3 Recommendations for Treating ASR-Affected Structures with Lithium------------------------ 32 CHAPTER 6. SUMMARY .............................................................................................35