Alkali - Aggregate reaction (AAR) A brief history of discovery of tis basic chemistry
- USCOLD, Cinuba CA (United States)
Alkali Aggregate Reaction (AAR), also variously known as Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) and even Alkali Carbonate Reaction (ACR), has troubled and challenged those of us since the 1930`s who would have liked to think of portland cement concrete and aggregates as a simple, reliable, inert, enduring construction material. Its complex and not easily understood chemistry successfully defied the understanding of the engineering fraternity for many decades. After all, civil engineers, architects, and construction engineers are not chemists or petrographers, and are only minimally laboratory-oriented or trained. Furthermore, the almost infinite variety of minerals which Nature has provided in the form of rocks and aggregates indeed constituted a nearly insurmountable challenge to the ready development of a credible understanding of the chemistry of expanding concrete. Accordingly, although a few talented pioneers such as E.A. Stephenson in 1916, J.C. Pearson & G.F. Loughlin in 1923, Professor R.J. Holden in 1935, and F. M. Lea & C.H. Desch in 1935, nibbled at the edges of understanding how gels were formed in the alkali-aggregate interaction process, it was not until 1940 when an engineer, Thomas E. Stanton, dared to publish a preliminary but understandable view of what causes portland cement concrete to expand. The writer`s interest in AAR began as far back as 1946 when the importance of the problem was repeatedly brought to his attention by Ralph W. Spencer, then Chief Civil Engineer of Southern California Edison Company, who was the writer`s supervisor in planning, designing and contracting the construction of many major projects, including dams. Previously as well as subsequently, the writer`s interest was enhanced by friendships and association with pioneers of AAR such as Professor Roy Carlson, Professor R.E. Davis, Lewis H. Tuthill, R.F. Blanks, and Roger Rhoades. The writer regrets never having met Thomas E. Stanton and his chief chemist, G.H.P.
- OSTI ID:
- 192151
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9510182-; TRN: 95:008180-0002
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. international conference on alkali-aggregate reactions in hydroelectric plants and dams, Chattanooga, TN (United States), 22-27 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second international conference on alkali-aggregate reactions in hydroelectric plants and dams; PB: 548 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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