An investigation on the alkali-aggregate reactivity of aggregates in Mersin Region

Abstract

A review of alkali-aggregate reactions in concrete is presented followed by details of an investigation on the susceptibility of regional aggregates to such reactions. Four types of concrete aggregates used around Mersin in Southeastern Turkey were considered. These were Silifke gravel from Göksu river, Ceyhan sand from Ceyhan river and two carbonaceous aggregates obtained by crushing limestones from Sucular and Yusuf Ziya. Chemical analyses of the aggregates were performed by XRF Spectrometer and the soluble alkali contents were determined. Alkali-silica reactions were investigated by the ASTM C289 procedure and ASTM C586 and C1105 methods were used to investigate alkali-carbonate reactivities. According to the test results all the aggregates were found to be non-reactive to the alkali-aggregate reactions.