Influence Of Cyclic Compressive Loading Induced Degradation Of Road Pavement Concrete On Harmful Aar

Influence of cyclic compressive loading induced degradation of road pavement concrete on harmful AAR In recent years the German motorway network has seen an increase in the occurrence of damage to concrete road surfaces built before 2005, which can be attributed to the alkali-silica reaction (ASR). In addition to exposure to ASR-stimulating alkali-rich deicing-agents, road surfaces are also subjected to cyclical mechanical loading resulting from traffic and induced stresses due to climatic impact. Such mechanical loadings are not considered in any of the previously developed ASR testing procedures. This cyclical loading could, however, lead to a degradation of the concrete microstructure and, in turn, stimulate the ASR-process. This article presents investigations that contribute to answering the question of whether a mechanically induced degradation influences the ASR-process. The hypothesis that the mechanically induced degradation leads to an increase in mass transport is examined. The mass transport is important for the ASR process because the reactants need to be transported to the reaction location before the reaction can take place. Therefore, it is assumed that increased mass transport also leads to increased ASR damage. Concrete specimens made of typical pavement concretes are subjected to a pre-damaging cyclic compressive loading. The degradation is characterized simultaneously during the pre-damaging process using non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques. Then the effects of the cyclical pre-damage on the mass transport as well as on the ASR are determined by comparing results from test specimens with and without pre-damage. The results lead to the conclusion that the cyclical pre-damage increases both the mass transport and the ASR.