Simulating the time-dependent evolution of Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) strains in concrete

Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) affects the resiliency of concrete structures by initiation of cracking in concrete which in turn leads to deterioration. There has been an increasing demand to understand the ASR-induced expansion and degradation in concrete. Continued safe operation of concrete structures requires an assessment of ASR-induced expansion and degradation. This paper attempts to understand the time-dependent evolution of ASR-induced expansion and degradation in concrete structures. A novel approach is proposed to simulate the ASR-induced expansion and degradation in concrete that is based on coupling the ASR-induced strains with the mechanical strains using a time-dependent piecewise evolution process at each instance of time. Data from an experimental study is used to develop the proposed approach. It is shown that the proposed approach is able to simulate the ASR-induced expansion and degradation in concrete reasonably well.