ASR Induced Blow-up in an Urban Concrete Pavement (Bahía Blanca-Argentina)

The urban pavement at 600 Catamarca street in the city of Bahía Blanca (Argentina) burst lifting the concrete slabs at the contraction joint. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes that lead to the concrete deterioration. Aggregate constituent materials, their mineralogy, textures, cond...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Marfil, Silvina Andrea, Maiza, Pedro, Salomón, Rodolfo Claudio José
Format: article
Status:Versión enviada para evaluación y publicación
Publication Date:2001
Country:Argentina
Institution:Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires
Repository:CIC Digital (CICBA)
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.cic.gba.gob.ar:11746/5050
Online Access:https://digital.cic.gba.gob.ar/handle/11746/5050
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Geología
Alkali-silica reaction (ASR)
Concrete
Pavement
Microscopy
Slab failure
Description
Summary:The urban pavement at 600 Catamarca street in the city of Bahía Blanca (Argentina) burst lifting the concrete slabs at the contraction joint. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes that lead to the concrete deterioration. Aggregate constituent materials, their mineralogy, textures, condition of the paste and the aggregate-mortar interface were determined by a petrographic analysis of the concrete. A petrographic optical microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) was used. Abundant ettringite development was noted both inside cavities and on the concrete surface. Its occurrence was confirmed by XRD and EDX analyzes. The aggregate deleterious constituents were mainly glassy vulcanites and volcanic glass, generally altered to argillaceous minerals of the montmorillonite group and strained quartz, with undulatory extinction. It was concluded that pavement deterioration was due to the alkali-silica reaction (ASR).