Development of a Performance-Based Framework for Optimized Selection of Raw Materials to Mitigate ASR in Concrete: Part 2, Mix-Designing Concrete to Mitigate ASR-Induced Development

It is widely accepted that ASR-induced expansion and deterioration may be prevented by appropriately using supplementary cementing materials (SCMs). Moreover, traditional standards and protocols for concrete production often require improvements and adaptations to optimize material use while maintaining performance. To address this, a new performance-based framework is proposed to optimize the performance-based selection of raw materials to mitigate ASR in concrete. To achieve this goal, concrete cylinders (100 × 200 mm) were produced using two types of reactive aggregates (fine and coarse) and five distinct binders: Portland cement, slag, fly ash, silica fume, metakaolin, and calcium hydroxide. These specimens were then subjected to the concrete prism test (ASTM C1293), and their efficiency in mitigating ASR was assessed through expansion measurements. The data gathered reveal promising results from using the proposed ternary oxides approach. By comparing the effect of different portions of Al₂O₃, SiO₂, and CaO, it was demonstrated that higher content of either Al₂O₃, SiO₂, or both resulted in lower ASR-induced expansion development. When keeping the amount of CaO constant, mixtures with more SiO₂ than Al₂O₃ were more effective in mitigating ASR. These results provide valuable information for making informed decisions when selecting the best options (i.e., combining different SCMs and their quantities) to apply in concrete structures where ASR development can be expected.