EP #147: Concrete Cracks Don’t Lie - ASR, AAR, and What’s Really Happening Inside Your Concrete

About this episode

Seth Tandett and Dr. Jon Belkowitz discuss the complexities of alkali-silica and alkali-aggregate reactions in concrete and their implications for durability.

PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Practical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career.  Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/ EPISODE SUMMARY Concrete cracks are often brushed off as shrinkage, restraint, or “just part of concrete.” That mindset gets structures in trouble. In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth Tandett is joined by Dr. Jon Belkowitz to break down alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR)—what they are, how they develop, and why they continue to surprise engineers, contractors, and owners decades after first being documented. They walk through the history of ASR, how it shows up in real structures, why it’s often misdiagnosed, and how modern testing and prevention strategies are improving—but still imperfect. The core message is simple: cracks are symptoms, not root causes, and ignoring them is how durability problems turn into long-term failures. This is a practical, field-informed conversation for anyone responsible for designing, specifying, building, or maintaining concrete structures. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why ASR remains one of the most misunderstood concrete…

People in this episode

Host: Seth Tandett

Guest: Dr. Jon Belkowitz

Topics covered

• alkali-silica reaction
• alkali-aggregate reaction
• concrete durability
• cracking in concrete
• modern testing strategies

Keywords

• ASR
• AAR
• concrete cracks
• durability issues
• testing methods

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY

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