Comparison of Alkali-Silica Reactivity for Mortar Bar and Concrete Prism Specimens Using Crushed Aggregates in Korea

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study is to compare the alkali-silica reactivity for mortar bar and concrete prism specimens using crushed aggregates of 5 types in Korea. And the alkali-silica reactivity for those aggregates are measured by chemical test method. METHODS: The alkali-silica reactivity for those aggregates was measured by chemical test method of KS F 2545, mortar-bar test of KS F 2546, accelerated mortar-bar test method of ASTM C 1260 and concrete prism test method of ASTM C 1293, relatively. RESULTS: The alkali-silica reactivity for those aggregates was verified by chemical test of KS F 2546 and accelerated mortar-bar test of ASTM C 1260. However, it was not by mortar-bar test of KS F 2546 and concrete prism test of ASTM C 1293. CONCLUSIONS: The above results showed that relationship among the four test methods were very low. The results from 3 types of test methods using cement-aggregate combinations appeared to be different. Because the environmental conditions of test methods for measuring the alkali-silica reactivity such as equivalent alkali content(external source), humidity, temperature, and times were different though the aggregates were same. Moreover, alkali-silica reactivity showed the biggest impact when alkalis were supplied form outside and exposed to environmental conditions. The accelerated mortar-bar test method seems to be most appropriate test method for concrete structures exposed to alkali environment.