Alkali–aggregate reaction represents one of the most consequential long-term degradation mechanisms for concrete dams.

This book provides a framework for diagnosing, quantifying, and modeling alkali–aggregate reaction in dam systems. It connects dam-scale evidence to analysis-ready parameters and modeling assumptions. Emphasis is on structural implications that influence stresses, cracking, and long-term displacement histories.

The book is organized as a step-by-step appraisal pathway that supports engineering decisions without requiring deep specialization in cement chemistry or experimental method development. It clarifies mechanism discrimination, introduces core-based damage quantification tools, and develops practical finite-element workflows for long-term simulation.

Designed for structural engineers, dam safety professionals, consultants, and regulators, the book is also appropriate for graduate students and researchers seeking a theoretical and application-focused entry point into appraisal of dams.

Dr. M. Amin Hariri-Ardebili is a Research Scientist at the University of Maryland and an Associate Researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His work spans performance-based earthquake engineering, risk and uncertainty analysis, nonlinear modeling of infrastructure, aging and deterioration, and scientific machine learning. He has authored over 130 peer-reviewed publications and six books, and has led interdisciplinary projects funded by NIST, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Dr. Hariri-Ardebili has also served as a technical adviser at HDR, overseeing national efforts in the design and analysis of concrete dams and hydraulic structures. He holds leadership roles within USSD committees and international dam-engineering initiatives and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Dam Engineering and Design section of Frontiers in Built Environment.

Dr. Golsa Mahdavi is a structural dam engineer at AECOM (Denver, USA), where she supports the design and advanced analysis of concrete dams, spillways, and hydraulic structures under combined seismic loading and alkali–aggregate reaction (AAR) demands. She earned her Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder, completing USBR-funded doctoral research focused on the finite-element assessment of AAR-affected concrete dams (the topic of the current proposed book), with an emphasis on practical modeling workflows that connect deterioration mechanisms to structural response and decision-ready performance metrics. An active member of the U.S. Society on Dams (USSD), she has presented technical work at USSD and ICOLD venues and has received multiple awards and funding recognitions, including support through USSD, recognition from CU Boulder, and an award associated with the MMM conference at Johns Hopkins University.