Cathodoluminescence microscopy and petrographic image analysis of aggregates in concrete pavements affected by alkali–silica reaction

Various microscopic techniques (cathodoluminescence, polarizing and electron microscopy) were combined with image analysis with the aim to determine a) the modal composition and degradation features within concrete, and b) the petrographic characteristics and the geological types (rocks, and their provenance) of the aggregates. Concrete samples were taken from five different portions of Highway Nos. D1, D11, and D5 (the Czech Republic). Coarse and fine aggregates were found to be primarily composed of volcanic, plutonic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, as well as of quartz and feldspar aggregates of variable origins. The alkali–silica reaction was observed to be the main degradation mechanism, based upon the presence of microcracks and alkali–silica gels in the concrete. Use of cathodoluminescence enabled the identification of the source materials of the quartz aggregates, based upon their CL characteristics (i.e., color, intensity, microfractures, deformation, and zoning), which is difficult to distinguish only employing polarizing and electron microscopy.

► ASR in concrete pavements on the Highways Nos. D1, D5 and D11 (Czech Republic).
► Cathodoluminescence was combined with various microscopic techniques and image analysis.
► ASR was attributed to aggregates.
► Source materials of aggregates were identified based on cathodoluminescence characteristics.
► Quartz comes from different volcanic, plutonic and metamorphic parent rocks.