ASR Resistance of Ternary Cementitious Systems Containing Silica Fume-Fly Ash Using Modified ASTM C 1260 Method

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) such as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and silica fume are now being extensively used in concrete to control expansion due to alkali-silica reactivity (ASR). However, the replacement level of a single SCM needed to deleterious ASR expansion and cracking may create other problem and concerns. For example, incorporating silica fume at levels greater than 10％ by mass of cement may lead to dispersion and workability concerns, while fly ash can lead to poor strength development at early age, The combination of silica fume and fly ash in ternary cementitious system may alleviate this and other concerns, and result in a number of synergistic effects. The aim of the study was to enable evaluation of more realistic suitability of a silica fume-fly ash combination system for ASR resistance based on an in-house modification of ASTM C 1260 test method. The modification can be more closely identified with actual field conditions. In this study three different strengths of NaOH test solution(1N, 0.5N, and 0.25N) were used to measure the expansion characteristics of mortar bar made with a reactive aggregate. The other variable included longer testing period of 28 days instead of a conventional 14 days.