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Alkali Reactive Carbonate Rocks: Is It Alkali Silica Reaction (Asr) Or Alkali Carbonate Reaction (Acr)?, Mengesha Beyene, Rc Meininger

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The root cause of distress in two different concrete structures made from carbonate coarse aggregates that fit the textural and compositional criteria cited for ACR was found to be caused by ASR, not ACR. Stereo-optical examination and transmitted polarized light microscopy (PLM) analysis showed that the concretes contain some dark gray, fine-grained argillaceous dolomitic coarse aggregates in which secondary white deposit filling the cracks extending from these aggregates into the paste (as well as lining air voids) is ASR gel. Back scattered electron (BSE) imaging with EDS spectra and x-ray elemental mappings, clearly confirm that the white secondary deposits consist …