A Literature Review on Alkali Silica Reactivity of Concrete

Abstract

Deterioration of concrete structures with time is well understood. One of the major reasons of deterioration is reaction between cement paste and reactive siliceous aggregates which is known as alkali silica reaction (ASR). This article reviews the studies on ASR in concrete. Although a vast literature is available on mechanisms and preventive measures against ASR, however there are still a lot of deficiencies regarding the test methods to detect the ASR potential in concrete. The aim of this article is to discuss different factors affecting ASR, consequences of ASR and different challenges encountered by researchers in the detection of ASR. The study revealed that alkali content of cement, aggregates grading, mineralogical combinations, testing methods and testing conditions are all the challenges, researchers face during evaluation of ASR potential in concrete.