U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
|
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-06-133 Date: March 2007 |
PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®
Progress is being made in efforts to combat alkali-silica reaction in portland cement concrete structures—both new and existing. This facts book provides a brief overview of laboratory and field research performed that focuses on the use of lithium compounds as either an admixture in new concrete or as a treatment of existing structures.
This document is intended to provide practitioners with the necessary information and guidance to test, specify, and use lithium compounds in new concrete construction, as well as in repair and service life extension applications. This report will be of interest to engineers, contractors, and others involved in the design and specification of new concrete, as well as those involved in mitigation of the damaging effects of alkali-silica reaction in existing concrete structures.
Gary L. Henderson, P.E.
Director, Office of Infrastructure
Research and Development
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
The U.S.Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers' names appear herein only because they are considered essential to the objective of this manual.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Technical Report Documentation Page
1. Report No. FHWA-HRT-06-133 |
2. Government Accession No. |
3. Recipient's Catalog No. |
|||
4. Title and Subtitle The Use of Lithium To Prevent or Mitigate Alkali-Silica Reaction in Concrete Pavements and Structures |
5. Report Date March 2007 |
||||
6. Performing Organization Code |
|||||
7. Author(s) Michael D.A. Thomas, Benoit Fournier, Kevin J. Folliard, Jason H. Ideker, and Yadhira Resendez |
8. Performing Organization Report No. |
||||
9. Performing Organization Name and Address The Transtec Group, Inc. |
10. Work Unit No. |
||||
11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-02-C-00097 |
|||||
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Office of Infrastructure
R&D |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered Final Report |
||||
14. Sponsoring Agency Code |
|||||
15. Supplementary Notes Contracting Officer's Technical Representative: Fred Faridazar, HRDI-12 |
|||||
16. Abstract Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) was first identified as a form of concrete deterioration in the late 1930s (Stanton 1940). Approximately 10 years later, it was discovered that lithium compounds can be used to control expansion due to ASR. There has recently been increased interest in using lithium technologies to both control ASR in new concrete and to retard the reaction in existing ASR-affected structures. This facts book provides information on lithium, its origin and properties, and on its applications. The mechanism of alkali-silica reaction is discussed together with methods of testing to identify potentially alkali-silica reactive aggregates. Traditional methods for minimizing the risk of damaging ASR are presented; these include the avoidance of reactive aggregates, controlling the levels of alkali in concrete and using supplementary cementing materials such as fly ash, slag and silica fume. The final two sections of the facts book discuss the use of lithium, first as an admixture for new concrete construction and second as a treatment for existing concrete structures affected by ASR. |
|||||
17. Key Words alkali-silica reaction, lithium, concrete durability, mitigation, fresh concrete, hardened concrete, case studies, laboratory testing, field investigation, existing structures |
18. Distribution Statement No Restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service; Springfield, VA 22161 |
||||
19. Security Classif. (of this report) Unclassified |
20. Security Classif. (of this page) Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages 47 |
22. Price |
||
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72 Reproduction of completed page authorized.
Chapter 2. Lithium—Properties and Production
Chapter 3. Alkali-Aggregate Reaction
3.4 Methods of Evaluating Potential Reactivity of Aggregates
3.4.2 ASR Testing in the Laboratory
3.6 Treating Existing ASR-Affected Pavements and Structures
Chapter 4. Using Lithium to Prevent ASR in New Concrete21
4.3 Laboratory Testing To Determine the Amount of Lithium Required
4.4 Effect of Lithium on the Properties of Concrete
Chapter 5. Use of Lithium to Treat Existing ASR-Affected Structures
5.2.1 Topical Treatment with Lithium
5.2.2 Electrochemical Lithium Impregnation
5.2.3 Vacuum Impregnation With Lithium
5.3 Recommendations for Treating ASR-Affected Structures with Lithium
Figure 1. Periodic table showing the position of lithium
Figure 2. Photograph of lithium metal
Figure 3. Photograph of the lithium- bearing mineral spodumene
Figure 4. Aerial view of lithium-bearing brines in Argentina (Salar del Hombre Muerto)
Figure 5. Aerial view of lithium-bearing brines in Chile (Salar de Atacama)
Figure 6. Sequence of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in concrete
Figure 7. Schematic showing difference in crystal structure of quartz (left) and opal (right)
Figure 8. Three essential requirements for deleterious ASR
Figure 9. Typical symptoms of ASR
Figure 10. Concrete prism test-prisms stored over water in sealed containers
Figure 11. Concrete prism test-length change measurements (ASTM C1293)
Figure 13. Effect of the alkali content of concrete on the expansion of prisms
Figure 14. Effect of SCM on the expansion of concrete (using concrete prism test)
Figure 23. Electrochemical lithium impregnation
Figure 25. Typical vacuum impregnation setup
Figure 26. Precipitation of LiNO3 from solution (a) on barrier wall and (b) on pavement
Table 1. Principal lithium minerals and their sources (after Lumley, 1997).
Table 2. List of lithium compounds and applications for lithium.
Table 3. Terminology for alkali-aggregate reactions (CSA A23.1-04).
Table 4. Typical chemical analysis for portland cement.
Table 6. ASTM test methods related to alkali-aggregate reaction.
Table 7. Calculation for alkali content of portland cement concrete.15
Table 8. Range of alkali limits (CSA A23.1-27A).16
Table 9. Example showing calculation of [Li]/[Na + K] molar ratio.
Table 10. Proportioning mixtures with lithium for the concrete prism test.26
Table 11. Penetration of lithium after electrochemical treatment of bridge deck.30
Table 12. General guidelines for topical lithium treatment.33
Table 13. Suggestions for monitoring lithium-treated structures.33
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chemical Notations
|