Recommendation of RILEM TC 258-AAA: RILEM AAR-10: determination of binder combinations for non-reactive mix design using concrete prisms–38 °C test method

Abstract

This RILEM AAR-10 concrete prism test (CPT) is a performance test method for testing aggregate combinations together with various binder combinations (i.e. composite cements or pure Portland cements + Supplementary Cementitious Materials; SCMs). The method covers the measurement of expansion produced by alkali-aggregate reaction of concrete prisms stored at 38 °C in a humid environment which accelerates the alkali-silica reaction (ASR). The principle of this method is founded on the RILEM AAR-3 aggregate test method. However, the prism dimension is increased to reduce the alkali leaching during the exposure of the prisms. The method has two different applications, i.e., (1) assessment of how the SCM content may reduce ASR susceptibility of an aggregate combination: enabling the use of a specific reactive aggregate product together with critical binder combination(s) (minimum binder requirements) for producing non-reactive concrete. (2) assessment of how available binder alkali content can be reduced by SCMs: enabling the determination of the required general binder composition together with a regional worst-case aggregate combination for producing non-reactive concrete (within that region). The method can also be used for determination of the alkali threshold for a concrete mix with a pure CEM I / Ordinary Portland cement.