Lithium migration in a two-chamber set-up as treatment against expansion due to alkali–silica reaction

Abstract

Alkali–silica reaction (ASR) affects numerous concrete structures worldwide. However, the intervention options for ASR in existing structures are limited. Lithium is proposed to suppress expansion. In this paper, an investigation on two-chamber lithium migration as treatment against ASR is presented. First, the influence of different levels of ASR development on lithium migration is studied. Results show that ASR development, if not followed by enough crack formation, hinders migration due to increase in resistivity. Second, the effects of different treatments, such as sodium and potassium removal, lithium migration (combined with the associated sodium and potassium removal) and lithium diffusion, on ASR expansion were evaluated. Lithium migration led to the lowest post-treatment expansion levels.