Report of RILEM TC 267-TRM phase 3: validation of the R-3 reactivity test across a wide range of materials

RILEM TC 267 TRM- "Tests for Reactivity of Supplementary Cementitious Materials" recommends the Rapid Reliable Relevant (R-3) test as a method for determining the chemical reactivity of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in Portland cement blends. In this paper, the R-3 test was applied to 52 materials from a wide range of conventional and alternative SCMs with the aim to validate such test. An excellent correlation was found between the cumulative heat release and the bound water determined following the R-3 test method. Comparison of the R-3 test results to mortar compressive strength development showed that all conventional SCMs (e.g. blast furnace slag and fly ashes) followed the same trend, with the notable exception of very reactive calcined kaolinitic clays. It is discussed, through an in-depth statistical regression analysis of the R-3 reactivity test results and the 28 days relative compressive strengths, how reactivity threshold values for classification of the chemical reactivity of SCMs could be proposed based on the R-3 test results.