Internal Swelling Reactions in Concrete: Mechanisms and Condition Assessment [Hardcover]

1. Introduction.? 2. Internal Swelling Reactions (ISR) Mechanisms.? 3. Assessing Condition of ISR-Affected Concrete.? 4. Visual Inspection and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT).? 5. Microscopic Analyses.? 6. Mechanical Tools.? 7. Multi-Level Assessment of ISR-Affected Concrete.? 8. Forecasting Future Performance & Managing Critical Infrastructure.? 9. Case Study: Condition Assessment of the Robert-Bourassa/Charest (RBC) Overpass.? 10. Conclusions and Future Works.??

This looks at internal swelling reaction mechanisms in concrete such as alkali-aggregate reaction, delayed ettringite formation, and freeze-thaw cycles. It outlines qualitative and?quantitative?protocols for multi-level assessment, using advanced microscopic and mechanical techniques, and includes a detailed case study.

As critical concrete infrastructure deteriorates, engineers need efficient and reliable techniques to appraise the causes and the extent of deterioration, to evaluate the structural consequences and to select effective management protocols and rehabilitation strategies. This book looks at deterioration caused by internal swelling reaction (ISR) mechanisms in concrete, such as alkali-aggregate reaction, delayed ettringite formation and freeze-thaw cycles.

The book provides accessible and comprehensive coverage of recent work and developments on the most common ISR mechanisms leading to induced expansion and deterioration. It addresses the implications of ISR on different scales (micro, meso and macro), outlines qualitative and quantitative techniques to assess the condition of affected concrete and introduces the multi-level assessment protocol, using advanced microscopic and mechanical techniques, particularly the stiffness damage test and damage rating index, as a reliable approach to appraise ISR-affected infrastructure. Also included is a detailed case study of the Robert-Bourassa Charest Overpass in Quebec.