Mitigation of expansive deterioration processes through crack control

Damage due to corrosion and alkali silica reaction is being mitigated through crack control. The paper discusses how durability can be enhanced by controlling microcracking in close vicinity to the reaction sites, which limits the egress of reaction products away from the reaction site. Mortar specimens with and without microfibers were exposed to either alkaline or corrosive environments. Crack control on the microscale in close vicinity to the reaction site reduced both the alkali silica reaction rate and the corrosion rate. Corrosion current density measurements based on polarization resistance and Tafel measurements indicate that the microfiber-reinforced specimens are more resistant to corrosion than the unreinforced control specimens.