Alkali-Aggregate Reaction in Concrete

Dr Ian Sims is a Director of RSK Environment Ltd in the UK, where he is responsible for Materials Consultancy and Expert Witness Services. He graduated in geology at London University in 1972 and then undertook research in concrete technology, including AAR in the British Isles, being awarded a PhD in 1977. Ian joined Sandberg LLP in 1975 and gained wide experience with construction geomaterials. In 1996, he moved to STATS Limited, which joined RSK Group PLC in 2008. He has specialised for over 40 years in concrete, its constituents and all aspects of AAR. Between 1988 and 2014, Ian was Secretary of the RILEM Technical Committees on AAR and awarded RILEM Fellowship. As a Fellow of the Geological Society, he was Secretary for four sequential Engineering Group working parties, producing report-books on Aggregates, Stone and Clay materials and construction in Hot Deserts. Ian received the Society’s Engineering Group Award and later the Coke Medal. He has served on many other committees, including chairing the editorial panel for ICE’s journal ‘Construction Materials’ and currently chairing the BSI committee on Aggregates. Ian’s publications include ‘Concrete Petrography: a handbook of investigative techniques’, now in its second edition. Alan Poole followed a research and teaching career in the petrology of civil engineering materials at Queen Mary, University of London. Throughout his later career he has been much involved with investigation of materials problems associated with concrete and related materials for government and major civil engineering organisations. One particular area of expertise is alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete, a costly and world-wide problem. He was a member of the international committee for the organisation of a series of major ‘ICAAR conferences’ on alkali-aggregate reaction until 2000 and chaired the two held in the UK (1976 & 1992). As a result of consultancy interests he has gained a wide experience in the investigation of civil engineering material failures of all sorts and has contributed chapters in a number of technical books and journals including co-authoring the recently published ‘Concrete Petrography’ which deals with all aspects of the investigation of concrete deterioration. He acts as secretary to the Geological Societies Applied Petrography Group and is also a member of British Standards Institution committees concerned with concretes and aggregates.

"This is a substantial book comprising 34 authors, 767 pages, 16 chapters with over 1000 references. It also contains a useful index. The book is interspersed with many figures, photographs, tables and diagrams relating to AAR as well as its variants ASR, ACR and DEF. All relate to the physical chemistry between cement, aggregates and water that result in expansion of concrete that can also lead to structural downgrading. [...]The authors Sims and Poole have brought together a wealth of information both academic and pragmatic from around the World. This work advances our understanding but equally important offers engineering solutions that both prevent and remediate the problems associated with AAR. [...]The book is required reading by engineers and materials scientists alike who have to make practical judgements concerning AAR. It will also appeal to academics and students because of its learned and erudite content. I suggest it should also be on the bookshelves of consultants and libraries in order to be used as a leading source of reference on this subject."Peter Hewlett, former President of the Institute of Concrete Technology."[...] This is a superb book that is likely to be the principal reference on AAR for many years.Obviously, there is much technical detail but the writing style remains accessible and there are abundant photographs and diagrams. Many of these are in color in the eBook version, although I cannot comment on the printed edition. The book should be of particular interest to anyone involved with concrete chemistry, including consulting engineers, university civil engineering departments, concrete petrographers, concrete product manufacturers and the research departments of cement manufacturers. The first five chapters alone on the science of AAR amply justify the price to anyone with a detailed interest in the subject.[...] Through reading this book, my understanding

• 1. Chemistry and Mechanisms of AAR 2. Assessment, Testing and Specification 3. Diagnosis and Appraisal of Structures 4. The So-Called Alkali-Carbonate Reaction (ACR) 5. Prevention of Alkali-Silica Reaction 6. Management, Protection, Repair & Rehabilitation 7. Global Variations 8. United Kingdom and Ireland 9. Nordic Europe 10. Europe Mainland and Turkey 11. Russia & Neighbouring Asian Countries12. North America13. South & Central America14. Southern and Central Africa 15. Japan, China & SE Asia 16. Australia and New Zealand 17. Indian Sub-Continent & South Asia 18. Middle East and North Africa