DEF assessment by concrete damage indexes: macro/microscale perspectives in the presence of SCMs

Abstract

This paper presents data from a long-term experimental program that involved the assessment of five thermally cured concretes: a reference concrete with no supplementary cementitious material (SCM), two concretes with silica fume (8–12% by volume replacement), and two with metakaolin (12–14% by volume). Their susceptibility to delayed ettringite formation (DEF) was evaluated by expansion tests, mechanical tests, and microstructural assessments. Indexes of concrete damage from DEF and their correlation to other properties were investigated. The SCM concretes suffered less DEF damage than the concrete with no mineral admixture. The metakaolin concretes suffered less DEF damage than the