Efficiency of ternary blends containing fine glass powder in mitigating alkali–silica reaction

•Synergistic role of a finely ground glass powder with other SCMs was evaluated.•Flow, pozzolanic reactivity and ASR mitigation in mortar mixtures were evaluated.•Flow of ternary blends with glass is superior over binary blends for all SCMs.•Blends of glass with slag/fly ash were superior over binary blends in all regards.

In this study potential synergistic role of a finely ground glass powder in binary and ternary cementitious blends with conventional SCMs such as meta-kaolin, fly ash and slag was evaluated. Strength activity index, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and mortar bar tests were conducted to study the pozzolanic behavior and ASR mitigation ability. The results from this study showed that ternary mixtures consisting of finely ground soda glass with either slag or Class C fly ash out-performed binary mixtures consisting of each of these SCMs at an equivalent dosage level. Binary mixtures consisting of meta-kaolin out-performed ternary mixtures consisting of ground glass powder with meta-kaolin at equivalent dosage level. Among all the binary and ternary mixtures that contained 30% level of SCMs, the maximum strength activity index and the most efficient ASR mitigation was obtained in ternary mixtures consisting of at least 10% glass powder. The results from TGA studies supported these findings.