Appendix D

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Petrographic Report for Albuquerque, NM, 1997

Sections from each of the cores were cut and lapped. These sections were then soaked overnight, dried, and the entire lapped surface was traversed under a stereo microscope. The lapped surface was divided into five traverses and examined at magnifications of 10 to 30 times. All instances of cracks, alkali-silica gel, and deteriorated or reacted aggregate particles were counted.

Core 97-1-1: The core is well air-entrained with an estimated air content of approximately 7 percent. There were numerous popouts and scales on the wearing surface. Eight microcracks were counted. No gel was detected. Three fine aggregate particles had reacted.

Core 97-2-2: The core is well air-entrained with an estimated air content of approximately 7 percent. The wearing surface appears worn but otherwise undistressed. Eight microcracks were counted. Three instances of alkali-silica gel were detected. Eleven fine aggregate particles show evidence of reaction.

Core 97-3-1: The core is marginally air-entrained with an estimated air content of approximately 4 percent. The wearing surface has occasional spalls and popouts over aggregate particles. Nine microcracks were counted. Eighteen instances of alkali-silica gel were detected. Three coarse and 15 fine aggregate particles show evidence of reaction or distress.

Core 97-4-2: The core is well to slightly over air-entrained with an estimated air content of 8 percent. There are numerous popouts and shallow spalls on the wearing surface. Five microcracks were counted. Twenty-one instances of alkali-silica gel, 5 reacted or distressed coarse aggregate particles, and 20 reacted or distressed fine aggregate particles were detected.

Core 97-5-1: The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of 5.5 percent. There are frequent shallow spalls and popouts on the wearing surface, as well as a "Y" shaped crack. Microcracks are frequent throughout the core and distress is severe. Ninety-two of the largest cracks were counted. Thirty-six instances of alkali-silica gel, 10 reacted or distressed coarse aggregate particles, and 49 reacted or distressed fine aggregate particles were counted.

Core 97-6-1: The core is air-entrained with slightly variable air content. The air content is estimated to be approximately 4.5 percent to 6 percent. The wearing surface is slightly worn but shows no other apparent distress. Two microcracks were counted. Seven instances of alkali-silica gel were detected; two reacted or distressed coarse aggregate particles; and six reacted or distressed fine aggregate particles were counted.

Core 97-7-2: The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of approximately 6.5 percent. Infrequent small popouts are present on the wearing surface. One microcrack was counted. Three instances of alkali-silica gel were detected. One coarse aggregate particle had reacted; 21 fine aggregate particles showed evidence of reaction or distress.

Core 97-8-2: The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of approximately 7 percent. There are occasional popouts over fine aggregate particles on the wearing surface. Four very short microcracks were counted within approximately 13 cm of the wearing surface. Four instances of alkali-silica gel were counted. One coarse and 10 fine aggregate particles showed evidence of reaction or distress.

Core 97-9-1: The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of approximately 6 percent. There are infrequent small popouts over fine aggregate particles on the wearing surface. Three short microcracks were counted, two near the wearing surface. Two instances of alkali-silica gel were counted. Two coarse and two fine aggregate particles showed evidence of reaction or distress.

Core 97-10-2: The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of approximately 7 percent. There are occasional small popouts over fine aggregate particles, and two large spalls on the wearing surface. It is not clear from this core whether the spalls are due to aggregate related distress or physical damage. Two short microcracks were counted within approximately 25 cm of the wearing surface. Six instances of alkali-silica gel were counted. One coarse and 10 fine aggregate particles showed evidence of reaction or distress.

Core 97-11-1: The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of approximately 6.5 percent. No distress, only normal wear, was evident on the wearing surface. Two microcracks extending approximately 20 cm from the wearing surface were counted. Two instances of alkali-silica gel were counted. Seven coarse aggregate and 21 fine aggregate particles showed evidence of reaction or distress.

With the exception of two cores, distress is very minor in these specimens. There is a general paucity of alkali-silica gel; cracking is usually very minor and very fine. Even where particles can be seen to have reacted, the amount of reaction or deterioration is usually minimal.

Petrographic Report for Albuquerque, NM 1998

Sections from each of the cores were cut and lapped. These sections were then soaked overnight, dried, and the entire lapped surface was traversed under a stereo microscope. Each lapped surface was divided into five or more traverse areas and examined at magnifications of 10 to 30 times. All instances of cracks, alkali-silica gel, and deteriorated or reacted aggregate particles were counted.

Core 98-1-2: The core shows scant deterioration. The wearing surface has a slightly to moderately worn coarse broomed finish with occasional popouts over aggregate particles. Three microcracks were counted, as were 24 occurrences of alkali-silica gel. Three coarse and 36 fine aggregate particles show slight evidence of reaction. The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of 6.5 percent.

Core 98-2-2: The wearing surface has a moderately worn, coarse broomed finish on which aggregate particles are occasionally exposed. The core is minimally distressed. Seven cracks and 24 instances of alkali-silica gel were counted. Two coarse and 27 fine aggregate particles show evidence of reaction. One fine aggregate particle was severely distressed. The core is air entrained with an estimated air content of 7 percent.

Core 98-3-2: The wearing surface is moderately to severely worn with frequent exposed aggregate particles, some apparently in old, worn popouts. The core shows abundant evidence of reaction but little distress. Two microcracks and 68 occurrences of gel were detected. Two coarse and 35 fine aggregate particles show evidence of reaction or distress. The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of 5 percent.

Core 98-4-2: The wearing surface is severely worn with frequent exposed coarse and fine aggregate particles. Surface wear is too great to determine whether any were once popouts. The core shows evidence of reaction but little distress. Five microcracks were detected, as were fiftyone instances of alkali-silica gel. Ten coarse and 51 fine aggregate particles showed evidence of distress or reaction. The core is highly air entrained with an estimated air content of 8.5 percent.

Core 98-5-2: The wearing surface is severely worn, with numerous exposed coarse and fine aggregate particles, one empty coarse aggregate particle socket, and five visible cracks, three of which intersect near the center of the core. The core is severely distressed. In addition to the features noted above, 254 microcracks and 135 instances of alkali-silica gel were counted. Fiftytwo coarse and 75 fine aggregate particles show evidence of reaction or distress. The core is airentrained with a variable entrained air content which is estimated to range from 4 to 8 percent.

Core 98-6-2: The wearing surface is moderately worn with occasional exposed coarse and fine aggregate particles. The core shows slight evidence of distress or deterioration. Twenty-six microcracks and 25 instances of alkali-silica gel were counted. Fourteen coarse and 32 fine aggregate particles show evidence of reaction or distress. The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of 8 percent.

Core 98-7-2: The wearing surface is moderately worn with frequently exposed aggregate particles. The core shows considerable evidence of reaction but little evidence of distress. Ten microcracks and 92 occurrences of alkali-silica gel were counted. Twenty-four course and 54 fine aggregate particles showed evidence of distress or reaction. The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of 7 percent.

Core 98-8-2: The wearing surface is severely worn with frequent exposed aggregate particles. There is considerable evidence of reaction but little evidence of distress. Twenty-one microcracks, chiefly contained within reacted aggregate particles, and 45 occurrences of alkalisilica gel were counted. Sixteen coarse and 36 fine aggregate particles showed evidence of reaction or distress. The core is highly air-entrained with an estimated air content of 8 percent.

Core 98-9-2: The wearing surface is moderately to severely worn with frequent exposed aggregate particles. Although the core contains substantial evidence of ASR, apparent distress is slight. Twenty-one microcracks–chiefly limited to aggregate particles–and 58 instances of alkali-silica gel were counted. Sixteen coarse and 45 fine aggregate particles show evidence of distress or reaction. The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of 8 percent.

Core 98-10-2: The wearing surface is moderately worn with moderately frequent exposed aggregate particles. The core contains abundant evidence of reaction, but little evidence of distress. Eighteen microcracks–all contained in aggregate particles–and 77 instances of alkalisilica gel were counted. Twenty-one coarse and 51 fine aggregate particles showed evidence of reaction or distress. The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of 6 percent.

Core 98-11-2: The wearing surface is severely worn with frequent exposed aggregate particles. The core contains frequent evidence of reaction, but little evidence of distress. Eleven microcracks and 55 instances of alkali-silica gel were counted. Sixteen coarse and 60 fine aggregate particles show evidence of distress or reaction. The core is air-entrained with an estimated air content of 6 percent.