Influence of curing conditions on spalling behaviour of reactive powder concretes

Title: Influence of curing conditions on spalling behaviour of reactive powder concretes
Author(s): I. Hager and T. Zdeb
Paper category : conference
Book title: 2nd International RILEM Workshop on Concrete Spalling due to Fire Exposure
Editor(s): E.A.B. Koenders and F. Dehn
ISBN: 978-2-35158-118-6
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-119-3
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2011
Pages: 377 - 383
Total Pages: 7
Nb references: 6
Language: English

Abstract: In this paper, an experimental study on the explosive behaviour of Reactive Powder Concretes (RPCs) is presented. Due to RPCs low water cement ratio, low permeability and relatively high density, those materials are prone to spalling. Three sets of samples were prepared. For each series different curing conditions were applied: curing in water at 20 °C, low-pressure steam curing at 90 °C and autoclaving conditions at 250 °C and pressure 4 MPa.
By steam curing and autoclaving changes in microstructure were observed resulting in the increase in mechanical properties. While heated to the target temperature of 600 °C weight loss measurements were performed. Three different heating rates were applied 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5 °C/min. While heated temperature in the furnace and weight loss of samples were recorded and by this mean the spalling temperature was put in evidence. The spalling behaviour was observed for tested concretes at temperature ranging from 227 to 299 °C.
Spalling appears in all RPC samples heated in a rapid way (2.0 °C/min). By reducing the heating speed the spalling was gradually eliminated for all RPCs. This work shows that curing conditions of tested RPCs have an impact on the occurrence of spalling phenomena.

Online publication: 2012-01-17
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00