Using of the Ultrasonic Method for Alkali-Silica Reaction Detection in the Cement Mortar

Abstract

The alkali–silica reaction (ASR) causes internal corrosion of concrete. The aim of this work is to verify the possibility of ultrasonic method in detection of concrete internal structure changes, which were initiated by the alkali-silica reaction. For this purpose, we prepared samples that contained aggregates of two types, namely one with 98% of SiO2 content and one with a greywacke. The dependence of ultrasonic impulse propagation velocity on the changes in the structure of mortars containing aggregates from these rocks was researched. The results of this work are not unambiguous yet and therefore it is necessary to carry out more extensive investigation with using of other methods that will allow to examine changes in the internal structure of composites more detailed.