Comparative study on the effect of different supplementary cementitious materials on Alkali-silica reaction of self-compacting concrete

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) has been increasingly used in construction industry especially in prefabricated concrete applications. Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a deleterious reaction between reactive aggregate and alkalis in cement. This reaction can lead to serious expansion and cracking in concrete, causing major structural problems. The deployment of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) emerges as a promising solution to counter ASR effects. Therefore, it is important to understand the role SCMs can play to eliminate the effect of ASR in SCC. In this study, the effect of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash (FA) and limestone powder (LSP) on the potential of ASR in SCC was assessed. To evaluate ASR, two standardized methodologies, RILEM AAR-4 and ASTM C1260, were adopted. Additionally, assessments encompassed fresh and hardened properties, alongside transport dynamics such as permeability and capillary absorption. It was found that the properties of fresh and hardened concrete are greatly affected by the type of SCMs used. The main findings of the study showed that SCC-GGBS outperformed other SCMs against ASR.