External sulfate attack in dam concretes with thaumasite formation

  1. S. Chinchón-Payá
  2. H. W. Nugterenc
  3. Chinchón Payá, Servando
  4. Aguado de Cea, Antonio
Journal:
Materiales de construcción

ISSN: 0465-2746

Year of publication: 2015

Volume: 65

Issue: 317

Type: Article

DOI: 10.3989/MC.2015.10513 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Materiales de construcción

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Concrete core samples extracted from different areas of the Mequinenza Dam (Spain) have been studied and expansive reactions affecting the structure were not found. However, expansive reactions in the concrete of certain parts located near the abutments of two galleries have been observed as a consequence of an external sulfate attack due to the sulfur compounds contained in the lignites that are present on the surrounding terrain. Secondary gypsum, ettringite, and thaumasite, as well as several sulfate efflorescence have been detected. The thaumasite formed in the degraded concrete is related to a Thaumasite Sulfate Attack (TSA). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Rietveld analyses of the TSA samples would show that thaumasite could have been formed thanks to ettringite acting as nuclei or by a direct precipitation from solutions within the pores of the cement matrix.

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Funders

    • BIA2011-28798-C02-02

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