Effect of Fineness Modulus of Reactive Aggregate on Alkali Silica Reaction

In this study, the effects of the fineness modulus of reactive aggregate on ASR expansion and ASR products have been investigated. The reactive aggregate used was metamorphic aggregate originated from Korea. ASR tests were conducted according to accelerated mortar bar test. The morphology and chemical composition of products formed in mortar bars, 5 years after the mortar bar test had been performed, were studied by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. Test results indicated that ASR expansion of mortar bars decrease in linear proportion to the fineness modulus of reactive aggregate. SEM images indicated that mortar bars showed reactive products formed in cement paste, within air voids and within cracks through particles except for the mortar bar with the fineness modulus of 3.25. The EDS analysis of the reactive products showed presence of silica, calcium and sodium, typical of ASR product composition.