ASTM C586-19

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Designation: C586 − 11 (Reapproved 2019) C586 − 19
Standard Test Method for
Potential Alkali Reactivity of Carbonate Rocks as Concrete
Aggregates (Rock-Cylinder Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C586; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the expansion of a specimen of carbonate rock while immersed in a solution
of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at room temperature. The length changes occurring during such immersion indicate the general level
of reactivity of the rock and whether tests should be made to determine the effect of aggregate prepared from the rock upon the
volume change in concrete.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 The text of this standard refers to notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C294 Descriptive Nomenclature for Constituents of Concrete Aggregates
C295C295/C295M Guide for Petrographic Examination of Aggregates for Concrete
C1105 Test Method for Length Change of Concrete Due to Alkali-Carbonate Rock Reaction
D75D75/D75M Practice for Sampling Aggregates
D1248 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion Materials for Wire and Cable
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms relating to aggregates used in this test method, refer to Descriptive Nomenclature C294.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 Small rock cylinders are immersed in a solution of NaOH except when removed for determination of length change. The
length change of each specimen is periodically determined.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method is intended to give a relatively rapid indication of the potential expansive reactivity of certain carbonate
rocks that may be used as concrete aggregates. The test method has been successfully used in (1) research and (2) preliminary
screening of aggregate sources to indicate the presence of material with a potential for deleterious expansion when used in
concrete.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.50 on
Aggregate Reactions in Concrete.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2019Oct. 1, 2019. Published August 2019November 2019. Originally approved in 1966. Last previous edition approved in 20112019
as C586 – 11.C586–11(2019). DOI: 10.1520/C0586-11R19.10.1520/C0586-19.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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C586 − 19
5.2 The test method is intended as a research and screening method rather than as the basis of a specification requirement. It
is intended to supplement data from field service records, petrographic examinations according to Guide C295C295/C295M, and
tests of aggregate in concrete according to Test Method C1105.
5.3 Alkalies participating in the expansive reactions with aggregate constituents in concrete usually are derived from the
hydraulic cement; under certain circumstances they may be derived from other constituents of concrete or from external sources.
Two types of alkali reactivity of aggregates are recognized: (1) alkali-silica reaction involving certain siliceous rocks, minerals,
and artificial glasses, and (2) alkali carbonate reaction involving dolomite in certain calcitic dolomites, dolomitic limestones, and
dolostones. This test method is not suitable as a means to detect alkali-silica reaction.
6. Apparatus and Reagents
6.1 1 N Sodium Hydroxide Solution—Dissolve 40 6 1 g of reagent-grade sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in distilled water, dilute
to 1 L and store in a polyethylene bottle.
6.2 Sawing, Drilling, and Grinding Equipment, suitable for preparing test specimens of the dimensions given in Section 8. This
will require one or more rock saws, depending upon the size of the original sample, a drill press equipped with a small diamond
core barrel for removing the cylindrical core, and a lap, grinder, or suitable modified lathe for shaping the ends of the specimens.
6.3 Storage Bottles, approximately 50 to 100-mL capacity with caps and openings of sufficient size to facilitate removal of
specimens. The polyethylene bottle shall be selected to ensure that the solution will not be modified by reaction with the material
composing the container, including pigments or other additives or by transpiration of phases through the walls of the container.
Bottles with wall thickness not less than 0.50 mm and composed of high density polyethylene meeting the requirements of
Specification D1248 for materials of Type III, Class A, are suitable.
6.4 Length Comparator, for convenient and rapid measurement of lengths of specimens, the comparator shall be of such design
as to provide, permit, or include the following characteristics. One type of comparator which has been found satisfactory is shown
in Fig. 1.
6.4.1 A positive means of contact with the conical ends of the specimen to ensure reproducible measurement of length. A variety
of contact points have been used successfully. Care should be exercised to ensure that when using specimens with conical ends
as described in 8.3, contact is made on the end along a circle which is concentric about the long axis of the specimen. If the
measuring device is a barrel micrometer, it shall have a ratchet stop to produce a constant pressure on the specimen.
6.4.2 A high-grade barrel or dial micrometer graduated to read in 0.001 or 0.002-mm units, and accurate within 0.002 mm in
any 0.020-mm range, and within 0.004 mm in any 0.200-mm range. The measuring device should be calibrated throughout its
range to determine both periodic and cumulative errors for proper correction of observed data.
6.4.3 A sufficient range to allow for small differences among gage lengths of various specimens. If care is taken in the
fabrication of the specimens, a measuring device with a travel of not less than 7.5 mm provides ample range in the instrument,
and
6.4.4 A standard or reference shall be used for checking the measuring device at regular intervals. The bar that serves as a
reference for the length comparator shall have an over-all length of 35 6 2 mm. The length of the bar shall be known to an accuracy
−6
of 0.002 mm. The bar shall be fused silica or a steel alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion not greater than 1.0 × 10
°C. Each end shall be machined to the same shape as that of the rock specimens. If a steel alloy is used, it shall be polished (see
Note 1). The reference bar shall be placed in the instrument in the same position each time a length measurement is made. The
micrometer setting of the measuring device shall be checked by use of the reference bar at least at the beginning and end of the
readings made within a half day when the apparatus is kept in a room maintained at constant temperature. It shall be checked more
often when kept in a room where temperature is not constant.
NOTE 1—Steel alloys with low thermal expansion coefficient should not be heat treated because they lose their low coefficient of thermal expansion
when so treated.
7. Sampling
7.1 Sample the rock in accordance with the applicable requirements of Practice D75D75/D75M, except that the sample mass
of each discernable stratum shall be at least 1 kg, and individual pieces shall be not less than 75 × 75 × 75 mm in size.
7.2 Sampling should be under the direction of an individual capable of distinguishing differences in lithology, and the sample
of rock should be taken to represent only the particular lithology under consideration bearing in mind the limitations and
significance of this method as stated in Section 5. Each sample of rock should be in one piece of sufficient size for preparing the
necessary test specimens.
7.3 One test specimen will sufficiently represent the sample of rock unless shale seams or other discontinuities are prese
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