Proof loading on the viaduct Vlijmen-Oost affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction

The viaduct Vlijmen-Oost, affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction, was proof loaded on 6 November 2013.
This tested was performed in order to asses the structural response of the bridge and the its current capacity.
The viaduct was already monitored from several years in the contest of the A59 project. The development of ASR was assessed in 1997, however the bridge expansion appear to be still limited.

This project was conducted by Rijkswaterstraat in collaboration with 3 IS2C project (PAT-ASR, Smart Proof Loading and InfraWatch).

Article in the local news paper.

The BELFA truck used to perform the proof loading.

Part of the team (from left to right): Rita Esposito (TUDelft), Max Hendriks (TUDelft), Johan De Boon (TUDelft), Sonja Fennis (TUDelft) and Ane de Boer (Rijkwaterstrat).

Mechanical Properties Degradation due to ASR-Swelling: The show has been started!!

After several trails (e.g. Trial Tests 1 ) and a long preparation, this week the first sample have been casted.
Just to give some numbers:
- 425 lt. of concrete will be produced
- in 6 casting along 4 weeks
- 107 sample
- 14 Young's modulus test, 14 splitting tensile test, 6 compressive strength tests will be performed along 52 weeks.
- 5 home made reactor will host the specimens during the storing time.

Here you can find some pictures of our work:

Home Made reactors.

Heater (bottom) and Controller (top) outside view.

Heater (bottom) and Controller (top) inside view.

Small Boxes in which the sample are stored.

Mould 10x10x40 cm for sample used in the Young's modulus test.

Mould 15x15x15 cm for sample used in the splitting tensile strength.

Mechanical Properties Degradation due to ASR-Swelling: Trial Tests 1

Our experimental campaign is becoming larger! We decided to have look also to the degradation of the mechanical properties due to ASR-swelling. 

We will store the specimens in homemade reactors which ensure a temperature of 38C and RH>95%.

Homemade reactors.

The specimens will be tested for Young's modulus and splitting tensile strength.

Just to get familiar with the type of test and the test machines, we had a trail cast at the middle of June and that week we performed the experiments.

Here there are some pictures of the tests.

Preparation specimens for the Young's Modulus test.

Disposition of LDVT for the Young's Modulus test.

Young's Modulus test.

Splitting tensile test.

Crack pattern after splitting tensile test.

Crack pattern after splitting tensile test.