Alkali reaction in concrete can occur when alkali hydroxides from cement react with certain aggregates, causing expansion and cracking over many years. The two main types are alkali-silica reaction (ASR), which involves reactive silica aggregates, and alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR), which involves dolomite aggregates. ASR forms a swelling gel that can damage concrete, while ACR forms brucite and calcite causing expansion. Both reactions are indicated by cracking, and can be reduced through the use of pozzolans like fly ash or lithium compounds.

1. Alkali Reaction in Concrete
• The alkalies of concern sodium and potassium
hydroxides, Na(OH) and K(OH) exist in variable but small
amounts as alkali sulfates in all portland cements
• They form alkali hydroxides as soon as water is added.
• Some of the aggregates react with the alkali hydroxides in
concrete, causing expansion and cracking over a period of
many years.
• Alkali-aggregate reaction has two forms: alkali-silica
reaction (ASR) and alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR).

2. Alkali-silica reaction (ASR)
• This type is more concern because aggregates containing reactive
non-crystalline silica reactive silica materials are more common.
• Aggregates containing certain forms of silica will react with alkali
hydroxide in concrete to form a gel that swells as it adsorbs water
from the surrounding cement paste or the environment.
• gels can induce enough expansive pressure to damage concrete.
• Typical indicators of ASR are random map cracking and, in
advanced cases, closed joints and attendant spalled concrete.

3. • Cracking usually appears in areas with a frequent supply of moisture,
such as close to the waterline in piers, near the ground behind
retaining walls, near joints and free edges in pavements, or in piers or
columns subject to wicking action. Petrographic examination can
conclusively identify ASR.
• can be controlled using cementitious materials in proper proportions
such as, silica fume, fly ash, and ground granulated blast-furnace slag
that reduced the amount of cement as they contain cementitious
property and will significantly reduced or eliminated expansion due to
alkali-silica reactivity. In addition, lithium compounds have been used
to reduce ASR.

4. alkali–carbonate reaction
• Causes in concrete that contain dolomite aggregates
• Alkali from the cement react with the dolomite crystals
present in the aggregate inducing the production of brucite,
(MgOH)2, and calcite (CaCO3) responsible for the volumetric
expansion after
de-dolomotisation of the aggregate, due to absorption of
water.