Evaluation of Current ASTM Standards for ASR Prevention When Fine Lightweight Aggregates Are Used

Previous research has shown that using fine lightweight aggregate (FLWA) can be a promising strategy to mitigate alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in mortar and concrete. However, limited studies focused on assessing current ASTM standards for their applicability in evaluating the efficacy of ASR mitigation using FLWAs. In this study, three commercially used FLWAs (expanded shale, clay, and slate) were investigated in mortar and concrete mixtures with reactive aggregates of different levels of reactivity. ASTM test methods, including ASTM C289-07, Standard Test Method for Potential Alkali-Silica Reactivity of Aggregates (Chemical Method) (Withdrawn 2016); ASTM C1260-14, Standard Test Method for Potential Alkali Reactivity of Aggregates (Mortar-Bar Method) (Superseded); and ASTM C1293-18, Standard Test Method for Determination of Length Change of Concrete due to Alkali-Silica Reaction (Superseded), were completed. Fine normal-weight aggregates were replaced by the FLWA at 25 % and 50 % by volume in the concrete mixtures, and 25 %, 50 %, and 100 % in mortar mixtures. Results showed that ASTM C1260-14 and ASTM C1293-18 can be used to evaluate the mitigation efficacy when pre-wetted FLWAs were used. The ASTM C289-07 test is not a reliable test method to study the reactivity of the FLWAs, but the results can be used to indicate the alkali-consuming ability of the FLWAs. All three FLWAs were effective in reducing ASR-induced expansion in both ASTM C1260-14 and ASTM C1293-18. The investigated FLWAs were especially effective in the concrete when moderately reactive aggregates, as classified by ASTM C1778-14, Standard Guide for Reducing the Risk of Deleterious Alkali-Aggregate Reaction in Concrete (Superseded), were used. For concrete with a highly reactive aggregate or very highly reactive aggregate, other mitigation strategies may need to be combined with FLWAs to effectively mitigate ASR.