NTL Record

Title Guidelines for The Use of Lithium to Mitigate Or Prevent Alkali-Silica Reaction
Record ID 81166
Personal Name
Creator
Folliard, Kevin J.; Thomas, Michael D. A.; Kurtis, Kimberly E
Corporate Creator The Transtec Group, Inc.
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Publisher U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, Research, Development, and Technology. Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Publication Date 20030700
Language English
Abstract Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a significant durability problem that has resulted in premature deterioration of various types of concrete structures in the United States and throughout the world. Although several viable methods exist to prevent AST-induced damage in new concrete structures, very few methods mitigate further damage in structures already affected by ASR-induced expansion and cracking. Lithium compounds have been recognized for more than 50 years as effectively preventing expansion due to ASR, and there has been renewed interest in recent years in using lithium compounds as either an admixture in new concrete or as a treatment of existing structures. This report 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 first provides a basic overview of ASR, including information on mechanisms, symptoms of ASR damage in field structures, mitigation approaches, test methods, and specifications. A comprehensive summary of lithium compounds is provided next, including information on their production, availability, and use in laboratory concrete studies and field applications (including a range of case studies). Guidelines for using lithium compounds as an admixture in new concrete and for treating existing structures suffering from ASR-induced damage then are presented, including information on how to assess the efficacy of lithium compounds in laboratory tests. Some basic information also is provided on the economics of using lithium both in new concrete and as a treatment for existing structures. Finally, the report provides a summary of conclusions and identifies several technical and practical issues that should be considered for future laboratory studies and field applications.
Rosap ID dot:56394
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56394
TRT Terms Admixtures; Alkali silica reactions; Concrete construction; Concrete structures; Expansion; Guidelines; Lithium compounds; Portland cement concrete; Recommendations; Repairing; Surface treating; Lithium; Fresh concrete; Case studies; Laboratory tests
General Subjects Concrete Durability; Mitigation; Hardened Concrete; Field Investigation; Existing Structures
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
938151
Contract Number DTFH61-02-C-00051
Report Number FHWA-RD-03-047
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/81000/81100/81166/FHWA-RD-03-047.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository