Investigation into the mechanical performance of concrete foundations affected by Alkali-Silica Reaction

Concrete foundations for electrical transmission line face pull-out loads, with aging and pathologies like alkali-silica reaction (ASR) leading to potential stability risks. Understanding the mechanical impact of this pathology is still complex due to its multi-physics nature. The aim of this work is to investigate the mechanical performance of concrete foundations affected by ASR. A pylon pull-out test from a small-scale mortar foundation is carried out in-situ in an X-ray tomograph, along with standard testing to evaluate the material's mechanical properties. Despite a degraded Young's modulus and an unchanged flexural strength by ASR, pull-out resistance increases, and failure modes are impacted. Digital Volume Correlation can be used to analyze swelling heterogeneity, cracking pattern and its influence on the foundation's mechanical strength.