Evaluation of rheological models for concrete submitted to alkali-aggregate reaction based on numerical analysis of damping - free expansion

Abstract The Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR) phenomenon in concrete structures is perceived via expansion and cracking, swelling of gel like material, causing damage and disruption in structural elements. Despite extensive standardization, AAR cases are still persistently occurring worldwide. The literature on susceptibility of concrete to AAR reported examples of false negative and positive results. Hence, long-term prediction is a problem still posing great challenge to engineers. The severity of AAR on the structural integrity can be mostly elucidated by the assessment of the historic of elastic properties. There is consensus that AAR causes decrease in the load capacity concrete, reflected by reduction of elasticity modulus due damage progresses. Non-destructive techniques are often used as first approach, as they can provide relatively fast assessment in situ as well as in large structural elements. Its data interpretation carries certain degree of complexity due intrinsic characteristic of many of these methods. This is the case of Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV), which have been considered to present several limitations for such purpose. This paper deals the potential use of the Longitudinal Resonance Frequency (LRF) method as tool to evaluate the elastic historic of AAR prone elements. The LRF possesses higher energy than UPV. Also, using modulation of frequency in input signal combined the test geometry, the LRF allow application to larger samples as well as to extract complementary information alongside the dynamic elastic modulus. This way, the LRF was applied to study concrete beams tested under controlled conditions for about 1.5 year. The independent variables to the tests are: time, frequency, aggregate type, cement content, alkali content and water to cement ratio. The dependent variables are: damping, loss factor and elasticity modulus. The analysis associate damage with vibration damping, confirming reduction of elasticity through damage with experimental validation and prediction of AAR under rheological model.