Structural Performance of Nuclear Power Plant Concrete Structures Affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR). Task 3: Assessing Cyclic Performance of ASR-Affected Concrete Shear Walls

Published

September 27, 2021

Author(s)

Jonathan Weigand, Fahim H. Sadek, Travis Thonstad, Sorin Marcu, Rudy Villegas, Long Phan, Adam L. Pintar

Abstract

This report describes the results of Task 3 of a five-task comprehensive research program 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 a 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, and may result in degradation of engineering properties and structural capacities of reinforced concrete structures. The report provides detailed information on experimental planning, observations, testing, measurements, and statistical analysis performed to achieve the objective of Task 3, Evaluation of seismic response characteristics of ASR-affected concrete shear walls. It presents experimental results of three ASR-affected shear walls and one nonreactive shear wall subjected to a constant axial compression and reversed cyclic lateral load, along with rigorous statistical analyses that quantify the effects of ASR-induced expansion/degradation and confinement provided by transverse reinforcement in the walls' boundary elements on walls' (1) deformation capacity including cumulative drift capacity, drift at yield moment, drift at peak flexural capacity, drift at 20 % reduction in peak flexural capacity, and peak drift capacity (or ductility); (2) flexural capacity including normalized peak flexural capacity and normalized yield moment; and (3) energy dissipation capacity including cumulative hysteresis energy and hysteresis energy by stage (at a given drift level corresponding to a certain performance objective).

Citation

Technical Note (NIST TN) - 2180

Report Number

2180

NIST Pub Series

Technical Note (NIST TN)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

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Keywords

Alkali-silica Reaction, ASR, Compressive Strength, Concrete, Confinement, Cyclic Loading, Ductility, Energy Dissipation, Expansion, Experimental, Flexural Strength, Seismic Testing, Shear Walls

Citation

Weigand, J. , Sadek, F. , Thonstad, T. , Marcu, S. , Villegas, R. , Phan, L. and Pintar, A. (2021), Structural Performance of Nuclear Power Plant Concrete Structures Affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR). Task 3: Assessing Cyclic Performance of ASR-Affected Concrete Shear Walls, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=932991 (Accessed April 24, 2024)