Structural Performance of Nuclear Power Plant Concrete Structures Affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) - Task 2: Assessing Bond and Anchorage of Reinforcing Bars in ASR-Affected Concrete

Published

February 3, 2021

Author(s)

Travis E. Thonstad, Jonathan Weigand, Fahim H. Sadek, Sorin Marcu, timothy J. barrett, Hai S. Lew, Long Phan, Adam L. Pintar

Abstract

This report describes the results of Task 2 of a five-task comprehensive research program being conducted at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the sponsorship of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The overall study aims to develop technical basis for evaluating effects of Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR), which occurs when the high pH concrete pore solution reacts with certain aggregate mineral phases to form expansive ASR gel and create internal expansive forces that cause cracking in concrete, on engineering properties and structural capacities of reinforced concrete structures. The report provided detailed information on experimental planning, measurements, testing, and computational modelling performed to achieve the objective of Task 2, assessing development and lap-splice lengths of reinforcing bars in ASR-affected concrete, and presented experimental results and rigorous statistical analysis that quantified the effects of ASR-induced expansion, confinement provided by stirrups, and lap splice length on the flexural performance and capacity of beams with lap spliced tensile reinforcement and bond strength.

Citation

Technical Note (NIST TN) - 2127

Report Number

2127

NIST Pub Series

Technical Note (NIST TN)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2127

Local Download

Keywords

Alkali-silica Reaction, ASR, Bond Strength, Bond-slip, Compressive Strength, Concrete, Confinement, Expansion, Experimental, Finite Element Modeling, Flexural Strength, Lap Splice

Citation

Thonstad, T. , Weigand, J. , Sadek, F. , Marcu, S. , barrett, T. , Lew, H. , Phan, L. and Pintar, A. (2021), Structural Performance of Nuclear Power Plant Concrete Structures Affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) - Task 2: Assessing Bond and Anchorage of Reinforcing Bars in ASR-Affected Concrete, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2127, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=930666 (Accessed October 13, 2025)