Estudo de tratamentos com lítio no combate da reação álcali-agregado / Study of lithium treatments in mitigating alkali-aggregate reaction

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) is one of the deterioration processes of concrete that most affects the structures of hydroelectric plants, concrete dams and bridges. In recent years, the efficiency of lithium based compounds to mitigate RAA has been proven in both the prevention and repair of the affected structures. With regards to treatment, the main challenge nowadays is how to ensure the adequate impregnation of concrete with the lithium solution. Given this difficulty, the objective of this research is to investigate in laboratory conditions, the efficiency of various types of treatment, using a product based on lithium nitrate. The treatments sought to prevent or minimize the residual expansion of AAR, in particular the alkali-silica reaction (ASR), already under development in the concrete and mortar. The study was divided into two stages, the first one performed in concrete prisms, from an adaptation of the Brazilian standard NBR 15577-6/2008, and the second stage in mortar bars, from an adaptation of NBR 15577-4/2008. The treatments were performed after the specimens reached a predetermined level of defined expansion: 0.04% for the concretes and 0.18% for the mortars. In the case of the concretes, the treatments were electrochemical lithium impregnation and surface saturation with lithium, in addition to their respective reference procedures (impregnation and surface saturation with water). For the mortars, the situations tested were: vacuum impregnation with lithium, total saturation in lithium, surface saturation in lithium, water immersion and wrapping in plastic film. After each exposure/treatment condition, the specimens returned to the accelerated expansion attack process in order to evaluate the effectiveness of each treatment. The results demonstrated the efficiency of the lithium based composite to mitigate the residual expansion, both in the concretes as well as in the mortars, with a different behavior depending on the conditions used. The treatment that had the best efficiency in the concrete, under the applied experimental conditions, was the surface saturation of lithium, achieving a 90% reduction in the residual values of expansions at the end of the attack (73 days), taking as reference the surface saturation condition with water. The lithium electrochemical impregnation performed was able to mitigate the residual expansions, but only up to the age of 42 days after treatment, at which time the reduction was of 50%. In fact, at 73 days the expansions were similar to those of the untreated sample. All treatments with lithium performed in the mortars were able to mitigate the residual expansions at levels approaching reduction of expansion (about 87%), with the total saturation in lithium the most efficient condition.

ASSUNTO(S)

lithium concreto durability tratamento reação álcali-agregado alkali-aggregate reaction treatment durabilidade lítio geotecnica concrete

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