Monitoring Alkali-Silica Reaction Significance in Nuclear Concrete Structural Members

A large-scale testing program on alkali silica reaction (ASR)-affected concrete structural members without shear reinforcement representative of structural members found in nuclear power plants is presented. Three concrete specimens, designed to experience a free expansion rate of approximately 0.15% per year were fabricated and placed within a controlled environmental chamber (38 ± 1°C (100 ± 2°F) and 95 ± 5% relative humidity (RH)). Sixty-four (64) embedded transducers and twelve (12) long-gauge fiber-optic sensors provide evidence of strong anisotropic expansion and oriented ASR-induced cracking resulting from the confinement effect caused by the reinforcement layout and additional structural boundary conditions. Surface cracking is not indicative of internal ASR-induced damage/expansion.

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