Reactivity of quartzite aggregate to cement alkalis studied by means of standardised and NDT
This study experimentally evaluates the alkali reactivity potential of a quartzite aggregate employed in the production of concrete for a low-emission radioactive waste storage facility. For comparison, a granitic aggregate and the Spratt's aggregate were also analysed. The study was conducted...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525008198 |
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| author | Servando Chinchón-Payá Luana Abreu Julio Emilio Torres Nuria Rebolledo Javier Sánchez Sylvia de Gregorio Manuel Ordóñez |
| author_facet | Servando Chinchón-Payá Luana Abreu Julio Emilio Torres Nuria Rebolledo Javier Sánchez Sylvia de Gregorio Manuel Ordóñez |
| author_sort | Servando Chinchón-Payá |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study experimentally evaluates the alkali reactivity potential of a quartzite aggregate employed in the production of concrete for a low-emission radioactive waste storage facility. For comparison, a granitic aggregate and the Spratt's aggregate were also analysed. The study was conducted sequentially. Initially, petrographic analysis of thin sections and accelerated expansion tests on mortar specimens were performed. These preliminary tests indicated signs of alkali-silica reactivity; however due to inconclusive results, a standardized concrete prism test was subsequently carried out. In addition, ultrasonic pulse velocity and electrical resistivity measurements were monitored as indicators of potential degradation. Petrographic analysis suggested possible reactivity in all three aggregates, although the degree of reactivity could not be determined. Accelerated mortar tests identified only the granitic aggregates as non-reactive. Concrete prisms incorporating quartzite aggregates exhibited no signs of reactivity, regardless of whether the material was used as fine or coarse aggregate. Resistivity measurements proved useful as an experimental control parameter, while ultrasonic pulse velocity monitoring provided insight into potential internal degradation, as it correlated with expansion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad696a71436745e3a194616b0e7e64a6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-5095 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad696a71436745e3a194616b0e7e64a62025-08-20T03:50:06ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-12-0123e0502110.1016/j.cscm.2025.e05021Reactivity of quartzite aggregate to cement alkalis studied by means of standardised and NDTServando Chinchón-Payá0Luana Abreu1Julio Emilio Torres2Nuria Rebolledo3Javier Sánchez4Sylvia de Gregorio5Manuel Ordóñez6Instituto Eduardo Torroja de Ciencias de la Construcción (IETcc-CSIC), Serrano Galvache, 4, Madrid 28033, Spain; Corresponding author.Instituto Eduardo Torroja de Ciencias de la Construcción (IETcc-CSIC), Serrano Galvache, 4, Madrid 28033, SpainInstituto Eduardo Torroja de Ciencias de la Construcción (IETcc-CSIC), Serrano Galvache, 4, Madrid 28033, SpainInstituto Eduardo Torroja de Ciencias de la Construcción (IETcc-CSIC), Serrano Galvache, 4, Madrid 28033, SpainInstituto Eduardo Torroja de Ciencias de la Construcción (IETcc-CSIC), Serrano Galvache, 4, Madrid 28033, SpainEmpresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, S.A., S.M.E. (ENRESA), C/ Emilio Vargas, 7, Madrid 28043, SpainEmpresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, S.A., S.M.E. (ENRESA), C/ Emilio Vargas, 7, Madrid 28043, SpainThis study experimentally evaluates the alkali reactivity potential of a quartzite aggregate employed in the production of concrete for a low-emission radioactive waste storage facility. For comparison, a granitic aggregate and the Spratt's aggregate were also analysed. The study was conducted sequentially. Initially, petrographic analysis of thin sections and accelerated expansion tests on mortar specimens were performed. These preliminary tests indicated signs of alkali-silica reactivity; however due to inconclusive results, a standardized concrete prism test was subsequently carried out. In addition, ultrasonic pulse velocity and electrical resistivity measurements were monitored as indicators of potential degradation. Petrographic analysis suggested possible reactivity in all three aggregates, although the degree of reactivity could not be determined. Accelerated mortar tests identified only the granitic aggregates as non-reactive. Concrete prisms incorporating quartzite aggregates exhibited no signs of reactivity, regardless of whether the material was used as fine or coarse aggregate. Resistivity measurements proved useful as an experimental control parameter, while ultrasonic pulse velocity monitoring provided insight into potential internal degradation, as it correlated with expansion.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525008198Alkali silica reactionPetrographyMortarConcreteNon-destructive testingQuartzite |
| spellingShingle | Servando Chinchón-Payá Luana Abreu Julio Emilio Torres Nuria Rebolledo Javier Sánchez Sylvia de Gregorio Manuel Ordóñez Reactivity of quartzite aggregate to cement alkalis studied by means of standardised and NDT Case Studies in Construction Materials Alkali silica reaction Petrography Mortar Concrete Non-destructive testing Quartzite |
| title | Reactivity of quartzite aggregate to cement alkalis studied by means of standardised and NDT |
| title_full | Reactivity of quartzite aggregate to cement alkalis studied by means of standardised and NDT |
| title_fullStr | Reactivity of quartzite aggregate to cement alkalis studied by means of standardised and NDT |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reactivity of quartzite aggregate to cement alkalis studied by means of standardised and NDT |
| title_short | Reactivity of quartzite aggregate to cement alkalis studied by means of standardised and NDT |
| title_sort | reactivity of quartzite aggregate to cement alkalis studied by means of standardised and ndt |
| topic | Alkali silica reaction Petrography Mortar Concrete Non-destructive testing Quartzite |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525008198 |
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