Evaluation of accelerated test methods for determining alkali-silica reactivity of concrete aggregates

For assessing the applicability of a newly proposed Chinese accelerated mortar bar test (CAMBT) to overseas aggregates and determining the appropriate aggregate size fraction for the test, the influence of aggregate particle size on ASR expansion was studied at 0.15–0.80 mm, 1.25–2.50 mm and 2.5–5.0 mm size fractions on nine aggregates from a range of sources. Correlation between expansions in the CAMBT and in the accelerated mortar bar test (AMBT), and correlations between the two accelerated tests and the Concrete Prism Test (CPT) were examined. The results indicate that, for most aggregates tested, 0.15–0.80  mm is not the most sensitive aggregate size to expansion in the CAMBT, especially at early period before 10 days. The 1.25–2.50 mm size fraction of all the nine aggregates, gives the highest early expansion (first 10 days). Correlation between expansions in the CAMBT and expansions in the AMBT is satisfactory. However, the correlations in expansions of both AMBT and CAMBT with the CPT are very poor. A better correlation between expansions in the modified CAMBT and in the CPT is obtained when 2.5–5.0 mm aggregate particles was used, but further tests are necessary to establish the full reliability of the test.