Residual properties of normal-strength concrete subjected to fire and sustained elevated temperatures: A comparative study
Journal of Structural Fire Engineering
ISSN: 2040-2317
Article publication date: 8 October 2020
Issue publication date: 18 March 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Concrete is a widely used construction material which can be prepared using locally available resources (aggregates, cement and water) by following relevant standard guidelines. The residual properties of concrete determined by heating in an electric furnace may not produce a similar effect of fire. The purpose of this paper is to compare the effect of a fire with that coming from the exposure of normal strength concrete to predetermined reference temperatures, for which two sets of specimens were heated in a fire furnace provided with gas burners and an electric furnace.
Design/methodology/approach
The concrete cubes and cylinders were subjected to 200oC, 400oC, 600oC and 800oC temperature in a gas-controlled fire furnace and an electric furnace for 2 h. The physical properties and mechanical properties of concrete were determined after cooling the specimens in air. The quality of concrete specimens was determined using the ultrasonic pulse velocity test, and surface hardness of the heat-exposed cubes was recorded using the Schmidt rebound hammer.
Findings
The fire-exposed specimens were found to have lower residual compressive strength, tensile strength and higher porosity/voids/internal cracks than the specimens heated in an electric furnace at the same temperature. Further, a good agreement with compressive strength and rebound numbers was observed for each of the two heating systems (flames coming from gas burners and electric furnace).
Originality/value
Normal strength concrete specimens exposed to heat in an electric furnace will not give the same effect of fire having the same maximum temperature. Further, it is noticed that concrete subjected to elevated temperature is sensitive to heating modalities, be it the flames of a gas furnace or the radiation of an electric furnace.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank The National Institute of Engineering for supporting this research and to fabricate a fire furnace at the Building Fire Research Centre. Also, the author is grateful to the reviewers for offering a number of constructive comments and suggestions that have enhanced the quality of the research paper.
Citation
V., S. and Suresh, N. (2021), "Residual properties of normal-strength concrete subjected to fire and sustained elevated temperatures: A comparative study", Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSFE-02-2020-0007
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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