Maarten A.T.M. Broekmans | Geological Survey of Norway (original) (raw)

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Papers by Maarten A.T.M. Broekmans

Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Construction Materials

Vestnik of Institute of Geology of Komi Science Center of Ural Branch RAS

Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 2016

Petrographic Atlas: Characterisation of Aggregates Regarding Potential Reactivity to Alkalis, 2016

Petrographic Atlas: Characterisation of Aggregates Regarding Potential Reactivity to Alkalis, 2016

Petrographic Atlas: Characterisation of Aggregates Regarding Potential Reactivity to Alkalis, 2016

ABSTRACT This article describes the direct analysis of polished individual aggregate particles by... more ABSTRACT This article describes the direct analysis of polished individual aggregate particles by X-ray diffraction (XRD), as compared to traditional powder samples. These particles are selected from mortar bars and concrete prisms previously exposed to expansion testing as well as virgin aggregate from the PARTNER project [1].The authors performed XRD analyses in solid and powder samples of the same aggregate particle. Comparing the results was concluded that for fine grained rocks without preferred orientation the use of a slab sample is more time efficient than traditional powder specimen, without compromising accuracy. Another advantage of this approach is that the investigated aggregate particles can be selected based on petrographic observations done in concrete thin sections affected by alkali-silica reaction (ASR).

Materials Characterization, Jul 1, 2009

ABSTRACT Concrete damage is most often first assessed using traditional methods, e.g., strength t... more ABSTRACT Concrete damage is most often first assessed using traditional methods, e.g., strength testing (compressive, tensile), total porosity from water uptake, water infiltration depth, cement/aggregate ratio and chloride content. While traditional methods may produce useful results bearing clues to resolve the problem, in some cases they do not, and can even be harmful to the parties involved. This paper describes two such cases where traditional methods provided false or inadequate results, putting liability with the wrong party. Both cases illustrate that petrography is an indispensable tool in the forensic assessment of concrete.In the first case, a building and construction contractor was held liable for the damage to a newly built sedimentation basin, according to the results of an initial assessment “of poor quality concrete”. A second assessment using impregnation–fluorescence petrography combined with detailed geochemical analysis revealed that instead the concrete was of normal constitution and compliant with specification, and that the damage was due to the application of urea, releasing the contractor from his conviction.The second case deals with pre-fabricated foundation piles that cracked upon pile-driving. The pile-driving contractor was blamed for the damage, allegedly from too much driving energy in combination with a worn-out wooden baffle. While the compressive strength of the concrete was normal, the tensile strength was found to be less than half of the expected value. Thin section petrography revealed poor adhesion of aggregate to the surrounding paste, confirming field observations. This could be attributed to “liquefaction and water expulsion” at an early stage of production when the piles still were under the care of the manufacturer.

National Institute Polar Research Memoirs, Jan 12, 2002

Chapter 1 of this thesis provides a brief outline of ASR history in general, followed by a summar... more Chapter 1 of this thesis provides a brief outline of ASR history in general, followed by a summary on the history of ASR in the Netherlands. The first contributions date from 1957 and 1962, but the problem only regains attention 30 years later when ASR is rediscovered in the early 1990's. First regarded as a curiosity, a considerable research effort is paid from the mid-1990's until present. Subsequently, a brief history on the Norwegian situation is provided, where ASR was speculated for the first time in 1962. Extensive mapping of field structures was conducted from 1990-1993 in Southern Norway, and in 1993-1996 in Northern Norway. This has resulted into a number of Masters and PhD-theses at the Technical University of Trondheim. Currently, Norwegian ASR research is coordinated by the Forum on Alkali-Reactions In Norway with the acronym FARIN. Chapter 2 presents results from detailed petrographic and geochemical analysis of concrete from Dutch structures Heemraadsingel, Wolput and Vlijmen-Oost on main road A59 and from structure KW5 at Zaltbommel. Petrographic results imply that not only chert but also sand-/siltstone is violently alkali-reactive and might release alkalies. Geochemical results further suggest a strong correlation between the amount of damage and the bulk alkali concentration. The results presented here serve as a basis for the work presented in following Chapters on concrete from Heemraadsingel and KW5 at Zaltbommel. Both structures have been sacrificed to science by the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Water Works who owned the structures. Chapter 3 discusses results from petrographic analysis and chloride profiles of concrete from former structures Heemraadsingel and KW5 at Zaltbommel. Five (3+2) complete vertical cross-sections of the decks were each divided in 16 equal parts. The amount of damage was rated according to a damage rating index (DRI) and plotted as a 16-section depth profile of chloride concentrations. There is a striking coincidence between the DRI and the chloride content, even though the latter is generally very low. This is attributed to infiltration of dissolved deicing salt along the crack fabric, implying that the concrete is accessible for fluids. Chapter 4 presents alkali concentrations measured by XRF on bulk concrete, and by ICP-AES after selective acid digestion on the cement paste, in 16-section depth profiles on the very same samples as in Chapter 3. The alkali concentration of the aggregate material is calculated by subtraction XRF minus ICP-AES. The results show no straightforward coincidence between DRI and alkali-content. This is attributed to the fact that alkalies derived from the paste on one site (local depletion) may infiltrate concrete elsewhere (local enrichment). Alternatively, the paste may be locally enriched in alkalies derived from clay minerals and/or mica from the aggregate material. Chapter 5 presents element maps for K, Na, Ca, Si, Fe, and S, for intact and ASR-cracked chert, and intact and ASR-cracked sandstone. Intact chert appears dense and inaccessible, whereas in cracked chert K, Na and Ca enter the grain margin through the initial porosity or through the ASR-induced crack, while Si is extruded from the grain. In intact sandstone, Ca enters the initial pore fabric and K and Na seem immobile. In the ASR-cracked sandstone Ca enters the grain, however, K, Na, and Si are all extruded through the crack in a gel plug. In all situations, Fe and S appear immobile. It is argued that the extruded K and Na may have been released by interstitial (diagenetic) clay minerals.

Journal of Materials Science, 2015

Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Construction Materials

Vestnik of Institute of Geology of Komi Science Center of Ural Branch RAS

Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 2016

Petrographic Atlas: Characterisation of Aggregates Regarding Potential Reactivity to Alkalis, 2016

Petrographic Atlas: Characterisation of Aggregates Regarding Potential Reactivity to Alkalis, 2016

Petrographic Atlas: Characterisation of Aggregates Regarding Potential Reactivity to Alkalis, 2016

ABSTRACT This article describes the direct analysis of polished individual aggregate particles by... more ABSTRACT This article describes the direct analysis of polished individual aggregate particles by X-ray diffraction (XRD), as compared to traditional powder samples. These particles are selected from mortar bars and concrete prisms previously exposed to expansion testing as well as virgin aggregate from the PARTNER project [1].The authors performed XRD analyses in solid and powder samples of the same aggregate particle. Comparing the results was concluded that for fine grained rocks without preferred orientation the use of a slab sample is more time efficient than traditional powder specimen, without compromising accuracy. Another advantage of this approach is that the investigated aggregate particles can be selected based on petrographic observations done in concrete thin sections affected by alkali-silica reaction (ASR).

Materials Characterization, Jul 1, 2009

ABSTRACT Concrete damage is most often first assessed using traditional methods, e.g., strength t... more ABSTRACT Concrete damage is most often first assessed using traditional methods, e.g., strength testing (compressive, tensile), total porosity from water uptake, water infiltration depth, cement/aggregate ratio and chloride content. While traditional methods may produce useful results bearing clues to resolve the problem, in some cases they do not, and can even be harmful to the parties involved. This paper describes two such cases where traditional methods provided false or inadequate results, putting liability with the wrong party. Both cases illustrate that petrography is an indispensable tool in the forensic assessment of concrete.In the first case, a building and construction contractor was held liable for the damage to a newly built sedimentation basin, according to the results of an initial assessment “of poor quality concrete”. A second assessment using impregnation–fluorescence petrography combined with detailed geochemical analysis revealed that instead the concrete was of normal constitution and compliant with specification, and that the damage was due to the application of urea, releasing the contractor from his conviction.The second case deals with pre-fabricated foundation piles that cracked upon pile-driving. The pile-driving contractor was blamed for the damage, allegedly from too much driving energy in combination with a worn-out wooden baffle. While the compressive strength of the concrete was normal, the tensile strength was found to be less than half of the expected value. Thin section petrography revealed poor adhesion of aggregate to the surrounding paste, confirming field observations. This could be attributed to “liquefaction and water expulsion” at an early stage of production when the piles still were under the care of the manufacturer.

National Institute Polar Research Memoirs, Jan 12, 2002

Chapter 1 of this thesis provides a brief outline of ASR history in general, followed by a summar... more Chapter 1 of this thesis provides a brief outline of ASR history in general, followed by a summary on the history of ASR in the Netherlands. The first contributions date from 1957 and 1962, but the problem only regains attention 30 years later when ASR is rediscovered in the early 1990's. First regarded as a curiosity, a considerable research effort is paid from the mid-1990's until present. Subsequently, a brief history on the Norwegian situation is provided, where ASR was speculated for the first time in 1962. Extensive mapping of field structures was conducted from 1990-1993 in Southern Norway, and in 1993-1996 in Northern Norway. This has resulted into a number of Masters and PhD-theses at the Technical University of Trondheim. Currently, Norwegian ASR research is coordinated by the Forum on Alkali-Reactions In Norway with the acronym FARIN. Chapter 2 presents results from detailed petrographic and geochemical analysis of concrete from Dutch structures Heemraadsingel, Wolput and Vlijmen-Oost on main road A59 and from structure KW5 at Zaltbommel. Petrographic results imply that not only chert but also sand-/siltstone is violently alkali-reactive and might release alkalies. Geochemical results further suggest a strong correlation between the amount of damage and the bulk alkali concentration. The results presented here serve as a basis for the work presented in following Chapters on concrete from Heemraadsingel and KW5 at Zaltbommel. Both structures have been sacrificed to science by the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Water Works who owned the structures. Chapter 3 discusses results from petrographic analysis and chloride profiles of concrete from former structures Heemraadsingel and KW5 at Zaltbommel. Five (3+2) complete vertical cross-sections of the decks were each divided in 16 equal parts. The amount of damage was rated according to a damage rating index (DRI) and plotted as a 16-section depth profile of chloride concentrations. There is a striking coincidence between the DRI and the chloride content, even though the latter is generally very low. This is attributed to infiltration of dissolved deicing salt along the crack fabric, implying that the concrete is accessible for fluids. Chapter 4 presents alkali concentrations measured by XRF on bulk concrete, and by ICP-AES after selective acid digestion on the cement paste, in 16-section depth profiles on the very same samples as in Chapter 3. The alkali concentration of the aggregate material is calculated by subtraction XRF minus ICP-AES. The results show no straightforward coincidence between DRI and alkali-content. This is attributed to the fact that alkalies derived from the paste on one site (local depletion) may infiltrate concrete elsewhere (local enrichment). Alternatively, the paste may be locally enriched in alkalies derived from clay minerals and/or mica from the aggregate material. Chapter 5 presents element maps for K, Na, Ca, Si, Fe, and S, for intact and ASR-cracked chert, and intact and ASR-cracked sandstone. Intact chert appears dense and inaccessible, whereas in cracked chert K, Na and Ca enter the grain margin through the initial porosity or through the ASR-induced crack, while Si is extruded from the grain. In intact sandstone, Ca enters the initial pore fabric and K and Na seem immobile. In the ASR-cracked sandstone Ca enters the grain, however, K, Na, and Si are all extruded through the crack in a gel plug. In all situations, Fe and S appear immobile. It is argued that the extruded K and Na may have been released by interstitial (diagenetic) clay minerals.

Journal of Materials Science, 2015

Journal of Materials Science Letters, Jun 1, 2003

Nesquehonite, Mg(HCO3)(OH).2H2O or MgCO3.3H2O, was named after its type locality in Nesquehoning,... more Nesquehonite, Mg(HCO3)(OH).2H2O or MgCO3.3H2O, was named after its type locality in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, USA. The structure of nesquehonite can be envisaged as infinite chains of corner sharing MgO6 octahedra along the b-axis. Within these chains CO32- groups link 3 MgO6 octahedra by two common corners and one edge. This structural arrangement causes strong distortion of the octahedra. Chains are interconnected by hydrogen bonds only, whereby each Mg atom is coordinated to two water ligands and one free water molecule is located in between the chains [1, 2]. Under natural conditions nesquehonite can form in evaporites depending on the availability of Mg2+ ions in solution relative to other cations, such as Ca2+. Additionally, nesquehonite occurs as an alteration product in the form of scales or efflorescences on existing carbonate rocks, serpentine, or volcanic breccias. Interestingly it has also been observed on the surface of a limited number of meteorites found in Antarctic regions, where it has formed by reactions of the meteorite minerals with terrestrial water and CO2 at near freezing temperatures. Nesquehonite has also been identified on the surfaces of manmade materials, such as bricks and mortar. The synthesis of nesquehonite forms a continuation of our work on the synthesis and study of the vibrational spectroscopy of natural and synthetic minerals in the hydroxide (brucite, gibbsite, boehmite, etc.), carbonate (cerussite, azurite, malachite, etc.) and hydroxycarbonate (hydrotalcite) groups. This work aims at describing a simple method for the synthesis of nesquehonite and the detailed characterization of the structure and morphology by X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrational spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).