Article: The impact of hygrothermal factors on unreinforced alkali-reactive concrete Journal: International Journal of Materials and Product Technology (IJMPT) 2026 Vol.70 No.3 pp.219 - 259 Abstract: This article aims to simulate geomaterial alterations in hydraulic concrete constructions through experimentation. Three types of unreinforced concrete were identified (I, II and III), two of which (II and III) were alkali-reactive and doped with Na2Oeq, and were then compared with the control concrete (I). Then 27 cores were obtained from 9 beams following a three-point mechanical bending test. The conservation period of 28 weeks was in a heated and saturated environment 100% RH; 12-50°C. Additional treatment is only considered for the cores to investigate the internal concrete matrix and determine very short-term water absorption (24 to 48 hours), divided into three states: normal, dry, and saturated, an ultrasonic test NDT is planned during the treatment. The monitoring results demonstrate the following: 0.6% AAR expansion, 2 mm (CO) width crack opening; a 60% decrease in velocity. The statistical method (PCA) is used to elucidate the correlations between the experiment duration and pathological symptoms. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: The impact of hygrothermal factors on unreinforced alkali-reactive concrete

Authors: Fouzia Bouabdallah; Houria Kherici-Bousnoubra; Noureddine Ferhoune; Mohamed Fouzi Habita

Addresses: Soils and Hydraulics Laboratory, Badji Mokhtar University BMAU, Annaba, Algeria; Department of Civil Engineering, Larbi Ben M'Hidi University LBMU, P.O. Box 358, Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria ' Soils and Hydraulics Laboratory, Department of Hydraulic, Badji Mokhtar University BMAU, P.O Box 12, Annaba, Algeria ' Department of Civil Engineering and Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection Laboratory, Larbi Ben M'Hidi University LBMU, P.O. Box 358, Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria ' Department of Civil Engineering, Badji Mokhtar University BMAU, P.O. Box 12, Annaba, Algeria

Abstract: This article aims to simulate geomaterial alterations in hydraulic concrete constructions through experimentation. Three types of unreinforced concrete were identified (I, II and III), two of which (II and III) were alkali-reactive and doped with Na₂O_eq, and were then compared with the control concrete (I). Then 27 cores were obtained from 9 beams following a three-point mechanical bending test. The conservation period of 28 weeks was in a heated and saturated environment 100% RH; 12-50°C. Additional treatment is only considered for the cores to investigate the internal concrete matrix and determine very short-term water absorption (24 to 48 hours), divided into three states: normal, dry, and saturated, an ultrasonic test NDT is planned during the treatment. The monitoring results demonstrate the following: 0.6% AAR expansion, 2 mm (CO) width crack opening; a 60% decrease in velocity. The statistical method (PCA) is used to elucidate the correlations between the experiment duration and pathological symptoms.

Keywords: unreinforced concrete; alteration; alkali-reactive AAR; hygrothermal factors; pathological symptoms; experimentation; statistical method PCA; hydraulic constructions; environment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2026.151507

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2026 Vol.70 No.3, pp.219 - 259

Received: 13 Sep 2024
Accepted: 12 Aug 2025
Published online: 03 Feb 2026 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: The impact of hygrothermal factors on unreinforced alkali-reactive concrete

Keep up-to-date